Horace Taylor

Horace James Taylor (26 November 1895 – 13 October 1961) was an English cricketer who played for Kent County Cricket Club during the 1920s. He served in the British Army during World War I and later worked in the British Colonial Office, spending a number of years working in Africa as an agricultural officer.

Early life Taylor was born at Sevenoaks in Kent in 1895, the son of Alfred Taylor, a saddle and harness maker in the town, and his wife Emma (née Hills). He was educated as a day boy at Sevenoaks School where he was in the cricket XI. After leaving school in 1912 he worked as a bank clerk until the outbreak of World War I.

Military service In August 1914, soon after the start of the war, Taylor enlisted in the British Army, joining the West Kent Yeomanry, a Territorial Force cavalry unit. He chose to sign up for overseas service, and in late 1915 served during the Gallipoli Campaign with the West Kents.

In December 1915 the West Kents were evacuated from Gallipoli, moving to serve in Egypt. Taylor spent the majority of the rest of the war in the Middle East, initially involved in the defence works along the Suez Canal. During mid-1916 the West Kents were committed to the Western Desert campaign, including in actions to suppress the Senussi which lasted until early 1917.

The following year, Taylor saw action during the Palestine Campaign of 1917–18. He served at the Third Battle of Gaza, in the campaign which led to capture of Beersheba, and in the Battle of Jerusalem during 1917. By this time the West Kent and East Kent Yeomanry had been combined to form the 10th battalion, Royal East Kent Regiment, and served as regular infantry in the 74th (Yeomanry) Division. After opening early 1918 involved in the defence of Jerusalem, the division was transferred to France, arriving at Marseille in early May. Taylor spent little time in France after bring selected for officer training in England. He ended the war at a training depot at Larkhill in Wiltshire. He dropped out of the team towards the end of July, although he continued to play for the Second XI throughout the remainder of the season and was the reserve team's leading run scorer during 1922.

In 1935 Taylor married Doris Austin at Sevenoaks; the couple had two children. He died at Tunbridge Wells in Kent in October 1961 aged 65.