William Charles Taylor was born on December 10, 1924, to Joseph P. and Dora Taylor, who then lived at 325 South Frazer St. Philadelphia. William was one of 6 children: John, Joseph, Dorothy, William, Marion, and Raymond.

His parents moved to West Chester when William was very young.  They lived on the 400 block of East Washington Street, just outside the borough limits in West Goshen Township. His father Joseph was an electrician who worked for Kehoe Electric located on East Gay St, across from the Post Office in West Chester.

William attended the West Goshen Consolidated School (which included kindergarten through 8^th grades) located on 829 Paoli Pike, which today is occupied by the West Chester Area School District Administration. He attended the Church of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on South High St. with his family.

After completion of 8^th grade, William attended the West Chester High School which was then located on the northeast corner of Church and Washington Streets.  He graduated in the class of 1942.  His yearbook says, “Although Bill is very quiet, he is friendly and a good student.  His favorite saying is “Oh Boy” and he spends all his spare time in working with wood or on his automobile.”

William applied for admission to the Williamson Trade School and was accepted.  The Williamson Trade school is located near Media, Pennsylvania, on 220 acres.  It was founded in 1889 by Isaiah Vansant Williamson, a Philadelphia merchant and philanthropist. The renowned Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades was established “to provide financially disadvantaged young men with the opportunity to become productive and respected members of society.” William attended the school, studying the trade of Carpentry, Class of 1945.

After a three month whirlwind romance, and with the blessings of their parents, William married his sweetheart, Elmira Davidge who was attending high school in Avondale. They were married in Elkton, Maryland, on September 22, 1943, and his bride moved to live with William’s family in West Chester.

Many couples married before the one left for war. William had received his draft notice and wanted to marry his sweetheart before he left. Two days later, on September 24^th, William reported for induction into the Army.

William received basic training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia, and was then sent to Fort George Meade in Maryland for additional training.  On February 22 he was shipped overseas to Italy.  In a letter to his mother, he asked her to send cakes, candy and chewing gum for himself and his buddies.

William served in a rifle squad in a service company, in the Fifth Army commanded by General Mark Clark.  The Fifth Army was involved in attacking the German Gustav Line about 80 miles south of Rome.  This heavily fortified German defensive line ran east to west across Italy, and was anchored by the Monte Cassino, a fortified hill 1,700 feet above sea level.

The plan was to attack Monte Cassino across the Rapido River, while Allied forces staged an amphibious landing at Anzio behind enemy lines. In January the 34^th Infantry Division of the 5th Army attacked Monte Cassino.  The fighting was intense, both at Anzio and Monte Cassino and little progress was made.  In February the 34^th Division was pulled back due to exhaustion and heavy casualties and replaced with fresh New Zealand and Indian divisions, but they too suffered heavy casualties. These divisions were withdrawn for regrouping.  Finally the entire area was pulverized by heavy bombing, destroying the historic Monastery at Monte Cassino, in February. Still, the battles raged on into May.

It was in the midst of this raging battle that William arrived and reported to the 5th Army Replacement Depot possibly in Caserta,  then one of their divisions.

On May 16, 1944, Private William Taylor was Killed In Action in Italy during a mopping up operation, just two days before Monte Cassino was finally captured.   When his mother received the telegram, she had a large box loaded with goodies ready for shipment.

William was buried in a cemetery in Italy.  After the war at the family’s request, he was returned home for burial in the family plot at Green Mount Cemetery on Westtown Road, (2 blocks south of Market St.) in West Chester.

His wife, Elmira, became one of the youngest war widows in the county, at sixteen years of age. William’s brother, Joseph, served in the Army in the War.

William fought in the same area, and possibly the same division as Hero Michael Barnes.

William’s classmates at the Williamson Trade School honored him on a bronze plaque, located in the lobby of the main building.  The plaque is placed on a wall, which they call their “Wall of Heroes,” on which is displayed plaques honoring students from various classes who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.  There were two students named from the Class of 1945.  The Plaque reads: 

“Erected by the Class of 1945 in honor and loving memory of the classmates who made the supreme sacrifice in World War II”.

A friend, Adam N. Reiter, wrote the following poem in honor of William:

“Bill”

I knew him well, when but a little tacker,
“Building Things” and playing with his toys;
Alone, perhaps, but always quietly smiling—
         Happier far, than some more fortunate boys…
I’ve talked with him, as one who found him worthy,
         And year by year I proudly watched him grow
And wished him glad success in all his striving—
         (It only seems a little while ago)…
I never thought that Bill would be a soldier;
         So peaceful-like, so mild, so kind was he^___
I never thought he’d give his Life in Battle,
         In some grim place^___ for those he loved—(and be)…
But when the nations’ urgent call was sounded,
         Like many a splendid lad, he answered, too;
And “Carried On” – (for Bill could do not other!)
         Till came the fated message…then, I “knew”…

He never sought to set aside the summons
         When Duty called; by craft scheme or plan;
Nor make a plea of “Youth” to stay his going…
         He didn’t NEED to wait to be “A Man”!
For sake of all he loved; for Home and Nation,
         He gave his Best, his mission to fulfill^___
And could he hear me speak the thought within me,
         I’d say, “I’m Proud, Indeed, I’ve Known you, Bill!”