William and Alfred were the sons of James and Maria Taylor of Little Plain, near Inverell. William, a thirty one year old Farmer, enlisted at Inverell in January 1916 and joined with other district men to become one of the Second Contingent of the Kurrajongs. They left Inverell together on 29 February 1916. Alfred was twenty eight when he enlisted a week after the departure from Inverell of his brother William.
The Taylor brothers were members of the 36th Battalion, 1st Reinforcement, which left Australia on HMAT A72 Beltana on 13 May 1916. After arriving in England training took place at Salisbury Plain. Alfred was sent to France in September, William went in November 1916.
William was wounded in action in February 1917 and soon re-joined his unit. By June he had been transferred to the 9th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery. He was gassed in April 1918, admitted to hospital at Rouen, then rejoined his unit in June. Two months later he was wounded again and invalided to England where he was admitted to hospital with a gunshot wound to his arm. He returned to Australia in March 1919 and was medically discharged in May. William died in 1961.
Alfred departed Inverell with a group of recruits in March 1916. After only three months in France, Alfred became ill and was returned to England where he was admitted to hospital suffering from Trench Feet. Following his release from hospital he was transferred to the 63rd Battalion and went back to France in August 1917. The following April he was transferred to the 34th Battalion and in August 1918 wounded in action. He was invalided back to England and admitted to Norfolk War Hospital, Norwich with a gunshot wound to his head. He returned to Australia in February 1919 and was medically discharged in May. Alfred died in 1929.
The names of Privates William and Alfred Taylor are inscribed on the Inverell Honor Roll and apre also recorded on the new Honour Roll at Anzac Park, Delungra.