Taylor, Cyril William

Trooper Cyril William Taylor

was born at 'Woodbine', St John's Park, Belfast on 23rd November 1898 to William Alexander Taylor, Bank Inspector and Elise Corinne Taylor nee Blythe. They had married on 5th September 1896 at St. Anne's, Belfast.

In 1901 Cyril (2) is living in house 1, Bridge Street, Banbridge with his parents, sister Nora Elise Evelyn (3) and step-sister Gladys Helene Blythe (11). A servant Rose Downey and a visitor Helena Pauline Crawley are also in the house. This property would be the Northern Bank House, Banbridge where William Taylor is the branch manager.

Northern Bank House, upper floor, Banbridge

Cyril's father, William Taylor had been killed in 1910 in a tragic accident at Northern Bank House, Donegall Square (West), Belfast when he fell down an accommodation lift shaft.

By 1911, Cyril is living at 54 Botanic Avenue, Belfast with his mother and 3 siblings/step siblings; Herbert John Blythe (23), Norah Elise Taylor (14) and Muriel Maud Taylor (8).

Cyril was a pupil of the Masonic Orphan Boys' School. 

On 12th January 1915, Cyril joined Northern Bank at Head Office. His address in the bank records was house 4, Copeland Terrace, Carrickfergus. 

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Whilst based in Head Office, he volunteered and enlisted into the North Irish Horse as a Trooper aged 17. He moved to the Royal Garrison Artillery before being demobilised in January 1919.

The excellent website North Irish Horse has the following biography for him:

On 12 January 1915 he joined the Northern Bank at its Head Office in Belfast. Later that year, or during 1916, Taylor enlisted in the North Irish Horse (regimental number unknown at present). At some point he transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery. Whether he served overseas is not known at present.
 
Taylor was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve, in January or February 1919. 

Following demobilisation, Taylor re-joined the Northern Bank on 10th February 1919 at Head Office. Transfers followed to Dromore (1923), Coleraine (1925), Kilrea (1937) and Lisburn – sub-manager (1944).

Cheque drawn on Northern Bank, Dromore branch

 

Northern Banking Company, Coleraine branch

Northern Bank, Kilrea branch (courtesy Irene Peden)

Northern Bank, Lisburn branch

Whilst in Coleraine, Cecil had to appear as a bank witness in a trial covered in the 'Ballymoney Free Press and Northern Counties Advertiser' of 12th July 1928:

C W Taylor - witness in trial

The 'Lisburn Standard' of 27th October 1944 reported C W Taylor as Manager of Northern bank and Treasurer of the 'Lisburn Army, Navy and Air Force Fund'.

Cecil Taylor retired on 31st December 1959.

Derek Taylor, a descendent of C W Taylor attended the 2000 re-dedication ceremony of the Rolls of Honour.