This is Nottingham --A WAR hero who helped save almost one thousand lives at sea has died, at the age of 98.
Described as a "noble gentleman" by his family, John Dennis Taylor served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War.
He was born on June 19, 1916 and grew up in High Street, Arnold. He died last Thursday, December 19.
Mr Taylor was stationed on HMS Laforey, and served in the Navy from 1940 to 1947.
He had been called up – along with his four brothers, Kenneth, Billy, Francis and Teddy – and sent to Scotland for two years to train, before going to sea.
His sister Sylvia Claiborne, 94, who still lives at their family home in High Street, remembers the dangerous times Mr Taylor and his fellow servicemen survived.
She said: "The Germans were firing on them all the time – they all feared for their lives.
"We never had a letter from him for two years. He said he wrote but they didn't send the post because they didn't want the enemy to know where they were."
John was sent out on convoy as an able seaman on the HMS Laforey, alongside the HMS Lucifer and HMS Lightning.
During his tours of duty he sailed on both the Malta and Russia convoys, providing food to people stranded and starving on the edge of Europe.
One convoy suffered heavy losses, setting off with 14 ships and returning with only five.
In 1942 Mr Taylor was thrown into one of the most daring rescue operations of the war, after HMS Ark Royal was torpedoed by a German U-Boat, 50 miles off the coast of Gibraltar.
Able seaman Taylor and his fellow crew members were commanded to steer the Laforey towards the Ark Royal. They helped supply electricity to the stricken ship – and managed to save the lives of almost one thousand crew members who were forced to abandoned their vessel.
Mrs Claiborne recalled how John's efforts were praised by the families of local serviceman who had been aboard the torpedoed ship.
She added: "I remember a lady saying to my mother, she said: Mrs Taylor, is your son at home again?
"My mother said: No, we haven't heard from him.
"She said: Well when he comes home can you thank him? He saved my son's life."
After the sinking of the Ark Royal, Mr Taylor was again stationed in Scotland, until 1947, before returning home to Arnold.
He was awarded several medals for his service, including the 1939-1945 British War Medal, the Africa Star, the 1939-1945 Star and the Defence Medal.
When he returned home, he married his childhood sweetheart, Edna.
They had one child, Janet.
The couple lived together in Furlong Street, Arnold.
Mr Taylor worked at the Co-op in Lower Parliament Street, before managing Daybrook Post Office. He then worked at the Co-op at Costock Avenue, in Sherwood, until his retirement in 1980.
Even in his last days, suffering from a bout of pneumonia, Mrs Claiborne said her brother was still the bright, gracious soul she and others had loved so dearly.
She said: "He was smiling at me all the time and held me by the arm.
"He was always such a noble gentleman."
Mr Taylor is survived by his daughter Janet, his grandsons Timothy and James and great-grandchildren Joseph, Abigail, Ella and Thomas.
A service will be held in John's memory at St Mary's Church in Arnold on Tuesday, January 7, followed by a cremation at Bramcote Crematorium. Reported by This is 15 hours ago.