Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Vincent Taylor, a bricklayer, born 28th February 1864 in Sileby, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Jane Taylor (nee Broadwell, formerly Kimber, married in the 3rd quarter of 1883 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1853 in Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire. Leonard Alfred was born in the 2nd quarter of 1892 in Sileby, his siblings were, Bristol Albert, a shoe trade machinist, born in the 1st quarter of 1887, Polly, a Griswold knitter, born 1884 and Florence, born 1895, all his siblings were born in Sileby, in March 1901 the family home was at Church Lane South, Sileby. In April 1911 Leonard was employed as a shoe trade worker and was residing in the family home at Church Lane, Sileby, together with his father, a bricklayer, his mother and siblings, Bristol, a shoe trade worker and Florence, a shoe trade worker. Leonard also had another elder sibling, Theresa, born 1889 in Sileby. Leonard’s mother Mary, had previously married Thomas Kimber in the 2nd quarter of 1873 in the Lutterworth, Leicestershire district, Thomas was an agricultural labourer, born 1853 in Markfield, Leicestershire, they had the following children, Ann Elizabeth, born 1873 and baptised on the 17th November 1873 in the Sileby Parish Church, Edwin, born 1876 and baptised on the 1st January 1877 in the Sileby Parish Church, Celia, born 6th May 1879 and baptised on the 26th October 1879 in the Sileby Parish Church and Herbert, born 13th June 1880 and baptised on the 3rd October 1881 in the Sileby Parish Church, all the children were born in Sileby. Thomas died aged 31 in August 1882 and was interred on the 21st August 1882 in Sileby. Leonard first entered the theatre of war in France on the 29th July 1915, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. His older brother Bristol fell in action in March 1918..
The War Diary records: 3 May-17 - HINDENBURG LINE. At 5.15 am Battalion in position. At 3.45 am Battalion moved forward to attack. Heavy enemy barrage opened simultaneously with our own barrage immediately in front of BROWN LINE. Machine gun fire opened at once from right and left flanks and from U.2.a.1.6. Heavy casualties were suffered from enemy barrage Captain F. P. COX killed and 2nd Lieutenant KING wounded. At 4.00 am the attacking troops on the left flank of the Battalion came across Battalion front forcing our troops to the right. A tank advanced down WOOD TRENCH but was forced to return owing to machine gun fire. 2nd Lieutenant -?-, 2nd Lieutenant GROOCOCK, Lieutenant LEAKE, 2nd Lieutenant BOYD and 2nd Lieutenant WILLET wounded. At 4.15 am the attack was held up on front of FONTAINE trench (running through U.1.b and U.2.a.). At 5.00 am the situation obscure. Runners sent forward with messages to Companies but none returned. At 7.00 am Lieutenant WALKER sent forward with 5 other ranks and a Lewis gun to work down WOOD TRENCH (see attached map). Lieutenant PLANT killed and 2nd Lieutenant CHOYCE wounded. At 7.40 am report received from Lieutenant WALKER that enemy were holding sunken road in front of FONTAINE WOOD and village in strength. Our men holding a line of shell holes about 50 yards in front of road. Telephone communication was established and Lieutenant WALKER remained in WOOD TRENCH until night of the 3rd/4th May sending much valuable information. At 8.45 am message received from Captain MILBURN that he was holding a trench with 1 officer and 30 other ranks with enemy on both flanks and in front. He was unable to identify his position and could see no troops on either flank. At 11.40 am reports received from Liaison officer with Battalion on our left that Brigade on left had withdrawn. Communication with Brigade Headquarters extremely difficult wires being continually cut. At 12.00 noon report received from Brigade Headquarters that the attack of the 64th Brigade on the right on the HINDENBURG LINE had made no progress. Continual machine gun fire and sniping made communications by runner impossible. At 5.30 pm message received from Lieutenant SCOTT (Officer Commanding “A” Company) via runner Lance Corporal Lattet, this runner had been 4 hours getting to the Headquarters as he had to run from shell hole to shell hole owing to enemy fire. Message stated that Lieutenant SCOTT was at U.2.a.1.6 with 2 other officers and 20 other ranks. Enemy were observed bombing down FONTAINE TRENCH and had commenced working round the flanks of this party. At 7.30 pm enemy opened a heavy bombardment of BROWN LINE and appeared to be counter-attacking. All troops of 6th, 7th and 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT in BROWN LINE and trenches in rear were assembled to counter-attack the enemy. Ration carrying parties were brought up and ‘stood to’ in support trench 40 yards in rear of BROWN LINE. At 8.00 pm enemy barrage still continued on BROWN LINE. Lewis gun posts were pushed forward from BROWN LINE. At 8.45 pm enemy barrage weakened considerably and ceased about 9.15 pm. At 12.00 midnight orders received that 13th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS would take over the BROWN LINE held by the Brigade and that all advance posts of the 110th Infantry Brigade were to be withdrawn.