George Taylor (British Army officer)

Brigadier George Taylor CBE, DSO, KHS & Bar (17 September 1905 – 17 July 1994) was a British born soldier who served in the British Army. According to The Independent, "he won an almost unrivalled reputation as a battle commanding officer in North-West Europe in 1944-45 before commanding brigades in the Korean war and in Kenya during the Mau Mau campaign."

George Taylor was the son of Colonel Thomas Taylor. He was born in Lancashire. He played rugby for the Army in 1931, 1933, 1935 and 1937, and went on to play for the Barbarians (rugby). He won two Distinguished Service Orders, a Commander of the Order of the British Empire and a Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre during his military career. Sir David Willcocks MC witnessed George Taylor's skills 1st hand when they served closely together, and stated: "not only his great courage and inspiring leadership, but also the care with which we reconnoitred and planned every attack or defensive engagement, in order to minimise casualties ... his courage and concern called forth in all ranks a deep loyalty and affection."

The Independent noted, "This time Taylor's soldiering was recognised with his appointment as CBE in July 1955. At that moment he might have been counted almost the most experienced field commander in the world: he was just 50."

Family

In 1937 he married Isobel Maguire (d. 1975), a niece of Sir Alexander Maguire. Following his first wife's death, he remarried, to Patricia De'Ath. His daughter from his 1st marriage Leonie Mary Taylor married, 1971, Hilton Nigel Matthew Seely, grandson of Sir Charles Seely, 2nd Baronet, nephew of Sir Hugh Seely, 3rd Baronet and 1st Baron Sherwood, and great nephew of J. E. B. Seely, 1st Baron Mottistone.

References

• The Independent, UK. Obituaries, "Brigadier George Taylor" 9 August 1994 [1]
• The Times, London. Obituaries, "Brigadier George Taylor" 20 July 1994
• Her Majesty's Stationery Office, The Army List 1990, part II, page 616.