Hugh Gilson (Taylor) Gilson-Taylor (1918 - 1984)

Born 23 Feb 1918 in Sunderland, Durham, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Veronica Anstace (Blake) Gilson-Taylor — married 6 Jun 1942 in Groton, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 8 Mar 1984 at age 66 in Stanstead, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Chris Gilson-Taylor [send private message]

Sources

Birth, marriage and death - Certificates

He was born in Sunderland on March 23rd 1918. He went to Repton School. He married Veronica Anstace Blake of Little Waldingfield on June 26th 1942 at Groton Suffolk. They had two children (see below). He changed his name by deed poll to Gilson-Taylor in 1956. He died on August 31st 1984. He joined the Army and commissioned into the Suffolk Regt. In July 1939 and served with the 1st Bn. in France. He was badly wounded while leading his platoon in an attack, by good fortune he was evacuated by hospital ship to the UK. During his convalescence he was attached to the RAOC in Derby. After recovering he volunteered for parachuting and on qualifying he was posted to HQ 4 Para Brigade. He took part in the Arnhem Operation acting as a dispatcher in a plane which was hit by AA fire, causing many casualties. He later commanded a seaborne detachment to NW Europe. When 5 Para Brigade went to the Far East in 1945 he accompanied it as a Company Commander in 12 Para Bn., serving in India, Singapore, Java and Malaya. Later came service with 6th Airborne Div. in Palestine, where he re-joined the 1st Suffolk’s in the Canal Zone. In 1951 he went with the Bn. to Malaya, after two years he transferred to the School of Jungle Warfare. Other peacetime appointments included Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence and as an instructor at the School of Land/Air warfare which included service in Amman and Cyprus. After retirement in 1959, he moved to ‘Barnfield’. He was a Parish and County Counsellor as well as Churchwarden. He sold ‘Barnfield’ in 1982.