In this month's episode, Col Andy Taylor and Reverend Paul Roberts reveal a family secret, explore the high streets and bye streets of the Herefordshire market town of Ledbury, and follow in the footsteps of Territorial bandsman and prisoner of war, Charles Percy Taylor. Any relation? Listen to find out!
Percy Taylor caused havoc in the town as one of the Mafeking Boys before running away to sea, only to return to Ledbury to work at Hopkins Garage and join the Herefordshire Regiment. The war found him more at danger from friends than enemies - receiving a bullet wound to the chest from a fellow Ledburian, before overseas service with the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry. Taken prisoner in the Spring Offensive of 1918, Percy spent a number of months in a German Stammlager or Stalag before repatriation and return to civilian life in the town.
Part of civvie life included regular trips to the Brewery Inn on the Bye Street - so this is where our hosts end up too, for a nostalgic pint and a discussion about research into the men of the town in the First and Second World Wars. If you have any information on Second World War servicemen or women from the town do contact us. (You may also wish to contact us to correct a glaring error made by Paul in describing the famous Ledbury Market House!)
To find out more about this small solely Territorial unit from Herefordshire, in the Welsh Marches, visit our website - Herefordshire Light Infantry Museum; follow us on Facebook Herefordshire Regimental Museum | Facebook or visit our Youtube channel Herefordshire Regimental Museum - YouTube.
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Theme Tune - The Lincolnshire Poacher, performed by the outstanding Haverhill Silver Band.