Ernest George Taylor

Private, Royal Defence Corps

Age 14, Class Mat A: 'A big strong boy. Very fair ability.'

Ernest George Taylor was a student at Alleyn’s until 1913. During this time, he lived with his parents, Henry and Mary Anne, at 191 Crystal Palace Road, East Dulwich. Ernest decided to enlist in the British Expeditionary Force in October 1915 and after being attested he was posted to 21^st County of London Regiment as a Rifleman. After only a short period with the 21^st, Ernest was transferred to the Royal Defence Corps as a result of medical unfitness. The RDC was a Home Service Corps and was primarily composed of men who were either unfit for active service or too old for active service. The corps was never used for overseas service and existed mainly to guard locations of importance in the United Kingdom. Ernest served with the RDC until the end of the war.