Private George Taylor

Private George Bannerman Taylor, 25th ( Frontiersmen ) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. He died of disease in German East Africa ( Tanzania ) on 18th October 1917, aged 29 and is buried in Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery, Tanzania.  He had been born in Cavers, Roxburghshire in 188 and was the son of the late William Taylor who had farmed Ashybank, Hawick.  Before enlisting he was employed as an auctioneer with Swan Ltd. Livestock Sales of Edinburgh. The Battalion only served in the African Theatre of War and was largely composed of older men from various backgrounds including big game hunters, several American cowboys, a millionaire, a circus clown, a lion tamer, an Arctic Explorer, a lighthouse keeper and an opera singer. There were also some French Foreign legionnaires and some Russians. The Unit was formed in February 1915 and was nicknamed ” The Old and the Bold ” due to its members ages , veteran status and reputation for endurance and daring. He fell during the Battle of Mahiwa and was originally buried in Mtama Cemetery before being re-interred in Dar-es-Salaam.