Jack was born in May 1921 in Manchester, Lancashire to Russian father David Wagenheim and Herta nee Cohen. David became a naturalised British citizen in March 1906 and changed the family surname to Taylor. David was married to Rena Cohen, Herta’s sister and had two children Morris and Edith and when she died he married Herta. In 1939, the family lived at 2 Moxey Road in Manchester and David worked as a linen merchant.

Jack enlisted in 1940 and served in Ferry Command. He died from Typhoid Fever at Karachi General Hospital on 2 July 1944.