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Sgt. George Wilson "Dod" Taylor
British Army 1st Btn. Gordon Highlanders
from:Ythan Wells, Aberdeenshire
My father, George Taylor, belonged to Meadowhead, Ythan Wells, Aberdeenshire. He joined the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders in Nov 1934 at the age of 18 years and 6 months, and was assigned to a signals platoon. In 1940, his battalion was part of the 51st Highland Division, which was ordered to stay and help the French forces in trying to stop the German advance. They were left with little food, ammunition, or artillery and they were also so exhausted that the commander gave the order to surrender to save the slaughter of approximately 10,000 soldiers. He was captured at Saint-Valery-en-Caux in June 1940. While out on a motorbike relaying orders to other battalions, he ran into a German patrol. Along with many others, he was marched to Stalag 383 Hohenfels near the Czech border and held as a POW until May 1945.
He never once told us of his experiences during the war, but they took their toll on him. For the rest of his life, he suffered nightmares every night until he passed away in 1991 at the age of 75.
