Frederick Lewis Taylor

Frederick Lewis Taylor, MA, (London, 28 March 1892 – Pallatine Road, Stoke Newington, Cheam, 31 July 1961 The Benedictines of Ramsgate are part of the English Province of the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation. Taylor was a historian educated at Cambridge, author of The Art of War in Italy, 1494-1529. He was a WW1 veteran, having served with the 17th Royal Fusiliers, he was invalided out of the army on 24 March 1918.

Family

F.L. Taylor was the son of Lewis Charles Taylor and (French-born) Camille Soulard. His father Lewis was a compositor, and worked for Dent & Sons. F.L. Taylor's paternal grandfather, George Gee Taylor was a printer. His paternal great-grandfather, Charles Gee Taylor, was a Wesleyan Methodist lay preacher, inventor of pills and ointments and patent medicine vendor.

F.L. Taylor's older brother, William George Taylor (Holborn, 17 October 1885, Welwyn Garden City, 4 July 1967), was secretary and manager of Dent & Sons. His elder sister Cécile Marie Taylor (Holborn, 18 November 1887, London, 16 July 1972) was Prioress of the Servite Sisters at Beccles, Stratton, Bognor Regis and Chelmsford. Her religious name was Electa. F.L. Taylor's younger sister was Camille L. (Marie) Taylor (London, 4 December 1889, Roxley Court Care Home, Letchworth), 5 September 1971), she was a telegraph operator.

Education and academic career

Taylor was educated at Hackney Downs School, London, founded as the Grocers' Company School in 1876. Ramsgate, Kent, UK Taylor studied history at Cambridge University, at St John's College. He was awarded an MA degree in 1920 with his essay/dissertation "The Art of War in Italy, 1494-1529 about the Italian wars, with an appendix on the Battle of Ravenna (1512). He won the Prince Consort Prize for this essay in 1920. The Prince Consort Prize was awarded in alternate years with the Thirlwall Prize, which has been awarded only in odd-numbered years. With the Prize he had his essay published by Cambridge University Press in 1921. He enlisted in September 1914 with the University and Public School Battalion 18th Royal Fusiliers (1st Public school) and trained in B Company. By November 1916 he returned to the battlefield in France as second Lieutenant of the 17th Royal Fusiliers as part of the Fifth New Army, 2nd Division, 5th Brigade. He commanded the B-Company. By Easter 1917 he took part in the capture of Beaumont Hamel in November 1917. He shortly afterwards was on leave in the UK. He received a Military Cross Medal for his action with his 17th RF in the Battle of Arras in April 1917.

Taylor was shot in his throat during the "Grey Avalanche", the German Spring Offensive, on 24 March 1918, where he acted as Captain. Taylor was elected abbot of St Augustine's Abbey in Ramsgate on 8 August 1934. He succeeded Abbot Erkenwald Egan, who resigned at the age of 79 after 25 years of office. Abbot Adrian Taylor was blessed on Friday 21 September 1934. He retired to St Michael's Abbey in Farnborough where he spent his last years. He became Titular Abbot of Reculver. He died of coronary thrombosis in 1961.