Army hunts for family of Great War soldier

Private John William Taylor, from Morley, Leeds, was 22 when he was killed in action during fighting near Beaucamps-Ligny, northern France, on October 23, 1914.

The remains of the soldier, who served with 2nd Battalion the York and Lancaster Regiment, were unearthed by builders in 2009.

The Army is now trying to trace any surviving relatives so they can take part in a forthcoming re-interment and memorial service.

Pte Taylor, who was born in January 1892, was raised along with his two older brothers by their widowed mother, whose husband died in a mining accident in 1900.

His eldest brother Ralph married Hannah Trautner, with whom he had six children: John, Herbert, Harry, Gladys, Minnie and Joyce.

His other brother Joseph had two sons, John and Harry.

The Army believes Pte Taylor also had two more nephews, Raymond and Eric, born in 1920 and 1926 respectively, who it understands settled in Morley.

An Army spokeswoman said: “We would be very grateful to anyone who can help us find anyone connected to those mentioned.”