3rd son of Lt-Col Thomas George Taylor, DSO (d. 1946). His grandfather Hugh (d. 1901) was owner of Ryhope Colliery and MP for Tynemouth. I presume he was named in memory of his uncle, Captain Hugh Taylor, who was killed in action on 19 Dec 1914. Ed. Eton m. 1940 in Singapore Diana Catherine [Elliot] 6ft 1in tall, brown-green eyes Owner of the "Widdrington Hotel" (in Widdrington, near Morpeth) RAF 1937-8 Acting P/O, and 1941 - Jan 1942 A/C.2 prev. from 1938, a refrigerator salesman for United Engineers Ltd, Singapore prev. exp. 83 hrs on Blackburn B.2, DH Moth, Hawkr Hart, Audax & Fury Address in 1942: Chipchase Castle, Wark, Hexham, Northumberland https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1155161 Postings: 7FPP, 16FPP Fined one day's pay in Mar 1944 for loss of Ferry Pilots Notes [His elder brother Tom was killed in action in July 1942] Off sick from 23 Jan to 13 Feb 1943 with "Aeroneurosis", and from 12 Nov 1943 to 3 Mar 1944 after a car accident. [As a result of a motor accident on the Kelso-Jedburgh road on [14 Nov 1943], First Officer H. Taylor, A.T.A., and a friend. Miss Donna Gordon, employed at the War Office, received injuries. Mrs Taylor, who was also a passenger, was uninjured. First Officer Taylor, who was driving, received facial injuries and was taken to Kelso Cotage Hospital. Miss Gordon was found to be suffering from a fracture of the skull and was taken to Peel Hospital, First Officer Taylor is a son of Col Taylor, Chipchase Castle, and formerly of Hendersyde Park, Kelso.] - Berwick Advertiser 3 accidents, none his fault: - 2 Jun 1942, the engine of his Magister failed during the takeoff run; - 9 Oct 1942, when taxying in a Fairchild, one wheel dropped into an unmarked hole, and - 8 Apr 1943, another engine failure during takeoff, this time in a Spitfire.
On the 24 Nov 1943, he laid the foundation stone of a new Primitive Methodist Chapel and schoolroom at Cullercoats, North Shields.
"Carries out his ferry duties in a very excellent manner but still possesses the unfortunate manner of showing a lack of discipline which necessitates supervision." On leaving ATA, he was entitled to a free passage back to Singapore but opted to go to New York instead. His eldest brother Richard inherited Chipchase Castle, and it is now "associated with Paul Torday, the author of the novel Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, which was made into a popular film. He lived there with his second wife Penelope (née Taylor), who inherited the estate, and reportedly did much to help manage it. The grounds are open to the public but the Castle is open to the public only in June." Wikipedia
Download ATA Pilot Personal Record (.zip file): |
I think this must be it - Cullercoats Methodist Church...
