Driver Fred Taylor

Fred Taylor enlisted with 227 RA Training Regiment 21 December 1944 with the rank of Driver. 

8 May 1945 he joined 120 Field Regiment, and was on X List 4 sent to India. Records also suggest soon afterwards he was evacuated on medical grounds (X list ii) to a Regimental Aid Post, he was admitted with dysentery.

Fred then joined 23 Para Field Regiment 19 February 1946.

Then 158 Para Field regiment 18 March 1946

The Survey regiment 14 January 1947 and on 10 September 1947 52 Observation Regiment Depot RA.

Fred left the Army Reserves 7 March 1948.

David Taylor recalls this about his father's service:

"WAR RECORD Originally applied to the Royal Navy as an Artificer, but was subsequently deemed surplus to requirements and had to return to his reserved occupation of engineering. Eventually able to enlist in 1943(?) when age 18 and joined the Royal Artillery. Tom Windsor's father (a half Colonel) advised him that on no account should he join the infantry! Trained as an MT driver/mechanic. Was helpfully sent overseas after an unfortunate 'misunderstanding' with a railway ticket and a 48 hour leave pass. Discovered mid voyage that they were on a posting to India. Volunteered for parachute training to avoid the prospect of glider borne operations as part of the 44th Indian Airborne Division. Gained his red beret (at Rawalpindi?) and joined the 159 Parachute Light Regiment, Royal Artillery. This was the only parachute artillery regiment in the British Army. Trained to drop 25 pounder field guns, and the transporting pair of jeeps, into the anticipated attack on Japan. Ironically, shortly after gaining his para wings, all glider operations in India were suspended because of the high casualty rate. For him though, the airborne operations continued through the use of Dakota transport aircraft. He treasured the 'Pegasus India' arm patch worn on the uniform sleeve. Sadly, the patch has long gone, but we still have his original red beret. Once VJ Day was announced, the unit was moved to Karachi. In Feb 1946 he was one of the few witnesses to the Indian Navy Mutiny in Karachi harbour, involving Indian Ratings aboard the Hindustan. The RA fired rounds onto the ship, which surrendered and thus avoided the planned mass mutiny and potential massacre. His unit didn't fire the shells. During those immediate pre-Partition times he was involved in anti-insurgency type operations as the country split apart. He moved up to Quetta and the Khyber Pass area to help stop the Afghan raids, where women and children were being taken back across the border as slaves. The Division was to be slowly 'Indianized' and became the 2nd Airborne Division. His unit was quickly and unexpectedly transported (on the Devonshire?) to Northern Egypt where they eventually drove into Palestine, near Haifa, to take up more counter insurgency duties (involving the Stern Gang and others) in the run up to the formation of the State of Israel. He fully intended to join up as a regular, having been offered the chance to be promoted to Sergeant and run the MT unit. However, he was given extended leave during 1947 after having been away for so many years and returned to the UK. Whilst there, his demob number came up, which he decided to take and so never returned to Palestine"