Richard William Joseph Taylor

A Seaman with S.S. Vine Branch, Richard died on 11th of April 1917 at the age of 21. 

Richard was born at London on 8 April 1896, a son of Richard and Emily Eliza Taylor. Between 6 February 1901 and 25 May 1903 Richard attended Saint Martin-in-the-Fields School, London, and at this time his family lived at the Fire Station, Scotland yard. By 1911 the family had moved to Oulton Broad and lived at 2 Providence Cottages, Commodore Road. By September 1914 they were living at 2 Striving Terrace, Oulton Broad, and later his parents lived at 2 Flegg Villas, Oulton Broad.

Richard joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 18 September 1914. He served with various Merchant Fleet Auxiliary and supply ships: Peshawar, to 1 January 1915; Baron Herries, to 25 January 1915; Zaria, to 15 July 1915; and the Polmont, to 2 November 1915. Then he served on Defensively Armed Merchant Ships (DAMS) including the Highland Glen. By April 1917 he was serving on the DAMS ship Vine Branch. 

On 11 April 1917 the Vine Branch was en route from Valparaiso to Liverpool carrying general cargo, nitrates, and meat. When steaming off south-west Ireland the ship was torpedoed by submarine U-55 and sank. Richard was one of 44 people killed.