Radcliffe Burma veteran has military honours at his funeral
Mr Taylor, known as Bob, died peacefully at home in Nursery Close, Radcliffe-on-Trent, on November 12, aged 83. He had recently been diagnosed with stomach cancer.
During the Second World War, he served with the Durham Light Infantry's 2nd Battalion in India and Burma.
He was discharged in 1946 and went back to his old job at a colliery, but it was only recently that he became aware of his right to a Burma Star medal after coming into contact with Royal British Legion case worker, Major Bill Clark.
Mr Clark said: "Mr Taylor fought in the 14th Army under Field Marshall Bill Slim in Burma. The Burma offensive was a very nasty part of the war, fighting the Japanese in the jungle. To have been part of that particular campaign is very special."
Mr Taylor finally received his Burma Star, War Medal and Defence Medal just months before he died, plus a bush hat of the type he wore as part of his uniform during the campaign.
The medals and hat were on top of his coffin as it was carried on the shoulders of male relatives into church for his funeral.
Born in County Durham in 1925 to a coal mining family, Mr Taylor went down the mine himself at 14, where he worked until he joined up, aged 19.
After the war, he returned to Horden Colliery in Co Durham where he worked his way up to the position of mine deputy.
At 28, he married Iris Harris. They had four children, Peter, Kenneth, Christine and Alan, who died in 2006.
Mr Taylor's work took the family to Darlington, Ollerton and back to Co Durham before they settled for a period in Cotgrave in 1972, where Mr Taylor was known at the Miner's Welfare Club.
Mr and Mrs Taylor returned to Co. Durham following his retirement until 2006, when they came back to Notts to be close to their children, Christine and Kenneth in Radcliffe-on-Trent and their late son Alan, who is buried in Radcliffe Cemetery.
His children paid tribute saying: "Dad was a real family man in the days before it was fashionable to spend a lot of time with your wife and children.
"A lot of the miners he worked with were often at the pub but he was at home or looking for extra jobs to make sure we had a holiday every year, when Mum famously wasn't allowed to do any cooking. We never went without.
"He was a very considerate husband and a devoted father. He took us all out every single Sunday so that Mum could have the day off, and he would teach us football, cricket and swimming. He did sponsored swims for charity up until 12 years ago!
"He always urged us to go in for every test, course or opportunity that came up and encouraged us in everything we did. He will be sadly missed."
As well as his children and a widow, Mr Taylor also leaves ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
jo.roberts@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk
Mr Taylor's funeral
Comment on this story