ROLL OF HONOUR

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32421, 21 April 1944, Page 5

ROLL OF HONOUR

FL YING* OFFICER M. TAYLOR i FORMER PAEROA RESIDENT Flying-Officer Mervyn Taylor, reported killed on active service last month, was the youngest son of Mr and Mrs G. H. Taylor, Tui road, Pt. Chevalier, and formerly of Paeroa, where Mr Taylor was then headmaster at the Paeroa District High School. Flying-Officer Taylor was educated at the Paeroa School from the age of seven years until he entered the Auckland Training College in 193-2. He graduated B.A. from Auckland University in 1935, M.A. in 1936 and received his Diploma of Education in 1938. His first appointment as a teacher was to Brixton road, Auckland, and later he taught at Otoko (sole charge) school. He enlisted from Napier Intermediate in November, 1939, and trained with the R.N.Z.A.F. at Levin and Wigram, from where he gained.his wings. In June, 1941, Flying-Officer Taylor left for Singapore, returning in March 1942, but commenced a second tour of duty in March 1943, in the Pacific, from which he returned in July of the same year. Being extremely keen to serve in England, Flying-Officer Taylor again left Zealand (August 1943) and qualified on Mosquitoes. It was during a night-flying training operation that he met his end, his plane crashing in Norfolk, the burial taking place in Cambridge Regional Cemetery. Flying-Officer Taylor’s brother Errol, who will be well remembered locally also, is at present serving in the Second Echelon Office, Egypt.