Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- Biography -
- Harold Taylor -

Isle of Wight Chronicle

June 5th, 1941.

Joined the R.A.F.
Mr Harold Taylor, youngest son of Mr John Taylor, of Apse Heath, and son-in-law of Mr Gordon Locke, of 29 Avenue Road, Sandown, left on Saturday to train for pilot's duties in the Royal Air Force. Mr Taylor, who is an old pupil of the Sandown Secondary School, has been in business locally as a painter and decorator and is well known as a baritone vocalist of considerable merit.

Isle of Wight Chronicle

March 19th, 1942.
Local Airmen Meet in U.S.A.
The meeting of two brothers-in-law from the Sandown district at an R.A.F. training centre in western America affords another interesting example of the coincidence for which the exigencies of the present conflict are occasionally responsible.
The young men concerned in the fortuitous encounter were Pilot Officer Harold Taylor, of Apse Heath, and Leading Aircraftman Gerald Locke, younger son of Mr and Mrs Gordon Locke of 29 Avenue Road, Sandown, both of whom are well known to many of our readers. Pilot Officer Taylor who concluded a fortnight's leave last week end, received his wings in January after six months' training in the U.S.A., and it was on the day of departure from the flying station there that he met Leading Aircraftsman Locke just arriving for a similar course of instruction with a new batch of trainees. They had only a very brief time together but spent a happy time comparing notes on their experiences.
Pilot Officer Taylor, who joined the R.A.F. in May last, is the youngest son of Mr John Taylor, of Apse Heath. He is an old pupil of the Sandown Secondary School and is well known locally as an able baritone vocalist. He experienced a grand time in the States, where the striking hospitality of the authorities and the people included a visit to a pre-view of the film 'A Yank in the R.A.F.', showing in Sandown this week-end. This occasion was rendered memorable by the fact that the trainees were driven to the cinema in a fleet of cars escorted by police on motor cycles with sirens sounding continuous in the best motion picture manner.

Isle of Wight Chronicle

July 16th, 1942.
Pilot Officer missing.
News has been received by his wife at Apse Heath that Pilot Officer Harold Taylor R.A.F. has been posted as missing from his unit. He spent 48 hours leave in this district at the week-end, returning on Monday afternoon; and yesterday (Wednesday) his wife received the sad tidings from his unit. Pilot Officer Taylor joined the R.A.F. in May, 1941 and received his wings in January.

Isle of Wight Chronicle

February 18th, 1943.
Sandown Pilot Officer Killed.
Definite information has now been received through the International Red Cross that Pilot Officer Harold Taylor, R.A.F. - of Apse Heath, lost his life in air operations over enemy territory on July 14th last. Shortly after the operations it was announced that Pilot Officer Taylor had been reported missing but his wife and relatives clung to the hope that he might be safe as a prisoner of war. Mrs Taylor received the definite news regarding his fate early this week. We understand that Pilot Officer Taylor had been engaged in an attack on the enemy in an Army Co-operation Mustang and that he lost his life on the return flight after having pressed home the attack. He joined the R.A.F. in May 1941 and received his wings in the following January.