JOHN TEAZE
REGIMENTAL NO. 4/585 and 9/1986
9 OCTOBER 1888 – 21 JUNE 1917
When David TEAZE married Amelia Louise CLAUDE in June 1888 he was committing himself to supporting her and her two children from her previous relationship with Joseph CLAUDE, as well as the new child with whom she was pregnant. John, born on 9 October 1888, three months after his parent’s marriage had two half siblings – Annie Waterston (1881) and Alfred (1883).
David and Amelia were living in Taylorville when John was born. Taylorville is a small settlement on the West Coast, about 10 kilometres inland from the mouth of the Grey River at Greymouth. Taylorville was once probably an important service town for travellers and local timber and mining industries. However there may not have been sufficient work for David, who was a (house) painter, and the family soon moved to Wellington where they took up residence in Ingestre Street at the southern end of Vogeltown.
Two more children were born shortly after the move – William Robert (1890) and Lavinia (1891). The children attended Vogeltown School. When John left Vogeltown School in 1903 he had attained the Fourth Educational Standard.
In the 1911 Electoral Roll David is registered as living in Harrison Street, Brooklyn, with John (jeweller) and William Robert (carpenter). Amelia is registered as living at Todman Street, on the other side of Brooklyn valley. Harrison Street is now mostly occupied by Brooklyn School.
David died on 17th May 1913. Amelia seems to have moved to Harrison Street and had become a registered midwife. John was still residing with his mother at 36 Harrison Street when he first enlisted at Wellington on 21 August 1914. He military personnel file notes his occupation was stationer, and that he worked with "own business". All other records give his occupation as jeweller. At his medical examination his ‘apparent age’ was given as 26 years, he was 5’9½” tall, weighing 10 stone 6 pounds; with dark complexion, brown hair and eyes. His religion was Presbyterian.
John was given the regimental number 4/585 with D Signal Company of New Zealand Engineers. While training at Awapuni Camp soon after enlisting, he wrenched his knee by stepping into a hole. He was treated for 3 weeks in the field hospital and discharged when the company was transferred to Auckland. He embarked on the “Waimana” which sailed from Auckland for Egypt on 11 October 1914 with 1600 men and 500 horses. John was laid up during the journey but was able to take part in field work in Egypt. However in May 1915 a 3-mile march brought on an attack of synovitis of the right knee.[i] This condition meant that John was not considered fit any longer for active service, and he was returned to New Zealand on the “Wimmera”, arriving in Wellington on 5 June 1915. On 11 October 1915, having served 232 days without seeing any action, John was officially discharged as being medically unfit for active service.
This seems not to have deterred John from still wanting to “do his bit” so 8 days later, on 19 October 1915, he again enlisted at Wellington. He was medically examined by Captain Hughes Steele who found him medically fit. His ‘apparent age’ was 27 years, but his description differed from his first attestation. On this he is described as 5’10” tall, with fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He had an appendix scar from an operation 6 weeks prior. His religion was Presbyterian. His occupation was stated as jeweller and he worked for Frank Grady in Willis Street, Wellington.
John was given the new regimental number of 9/1986 with the Otago Mounted Rifles. He went to Tauherenikau in the Wairarapa for training and was there inoculated for typhoid on 30 October and 7 November 1915. In January 1916 John again left for the front, this time in the 9th Reinforcements on H.M.T. 37 on “Maunganui”. After arriving in Egypt on 12 February 1916 John was transferred from the 13th Battery, Otago Mounted Rifles at Moascar on 26 March 1916.
John was again injured (details not known) and on 7 April 1916 he was admitted to the 21st General Hospital in Alexandria where he stayed until 22 April 1916. On discharge from the hospital he went to the training depot at Tel-el-Kebir until 27 May 1916 when he finally embarked for France on the “Maniton”.
He was attached to strength at Etaples from 9 June 1916 being appointed to the position of cook shortly afterwards. On 20 September he relinquished the position and marched out with the division. He was with the Divisional Ammunition Column in the field until 18 November 1916 when he was posted to the 3rd Battery 1st Brigade. On 1 December 1916 he was again appointed as cook, a position he held until he was seriously wounded in the left leg and thigh on 21 June 1917.
After being admitted to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station John died later the same day. He was buried in Plot 1, Row S, no. 38 at Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck, France. The Cemetery is situated to the north-east midway between the village of Steenwerck and the main road from Bailleul to Armentieres in Flanders. The site for Trois Arbres Cemetery was chosen for the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station in July 1916, and Plot 1 and the earlier rows of Plot II, were made and used by that hospital until April 1918. A few further burials were made in the cemetery after the German withdrawal at the end of 1918 and after the Armistice, over 700 graves were brought into it from the battlefields of Steenwerck, Nieppe, Bailleul and Neuve-Eglise.[ii]
John was entitled to the 1914/15 Star, the British War medal and plaque and scroll, all of which were sent to his mother, Amelia, in 1921. She died three years later, and was buried with her husband in Karori Cemetery.
John’s younger brother William Robert also served, from August 1916 until April 1919. He was wounded in action on two occasions but returned home to marry and have a family.
John’s brother-in-law, James Charles Evenden, who married John’s sister Lavinia in 1915 also served as a cook for nearly four years and returned home to resume married life and his career. Both William and James’ names are amongst those on the Brooklyn memorial.
Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 3, 4 July 1917, page 1
TEAZE – Died of wounds in France on the 21st June, 1917, John, beloved eldest son of Amelia and the late David Teaze, No.36 Harrison-terrace, Brooklyn; aged 28 years. “Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face.”
Research undertaken by Anne Walker with supplementary material provided by Barbara Mulligan.
[i] Knee synovitis occurs when the synovial membrane which lines and lubricates the knee joint, becomes inflamed. Symptoms include pain and swelling with stiffness in the knee joint. There will be an increased skin temperature and redness over the area. Synovitis is usually a secondary condition, caused by another ailment, such as arthritis. It may also be caused by an injury to the knee joint or cancer
[ii] http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2000052/TROIS%20ARBRES%20CEMETERY,%20STEENWERCK
REGIMENTAL NO. 4/585 and 9/1986
9 OCTOBER 1888 – 21 JUNE 1917
When David TEAZE married Amelia Louise CLAUDE in June 1888 he was committing himself to supporting her and her two children from her previous relationship with Joseph CLAUDE, as well as the new child with whom she was pregnant. John, born on 9 October 1888, three months after his parent’s marriage had two half siblings – Annie Waterston (1881) and Alfred (1883).
David and Amelia were living in Taylorville when John was born. Taylorville is a small settlement on the West Coast, about 10 kilometres inland from the mouth of the Grey River at Greymouth. Taylorville was once probably an important service town for travellers and local timber and mining industries. However there may not have been sufficient work for David, who was a (house) painter, and the family soon moved to Wellington where they took up residence in Ingestre Street at the southern end of Vogeltown.
Two more children were born shortly after the move – William Robert (1890) and Lavinia (1891). The children attended Vogeltown School. When John left Vogeltown School in 1903 he had attained the Fourth Educational Standard.
In the 1911 Electoral Roll David is registered as living in Harrison Street, Brooklyn, with John (jeweller) and William Robert (carpenter). Amelia is registered as living at Todman Street, on the other side of Brooklyn valley. Harrison Street is now mostly occupied by Brooklyn School.
David died on 17th May 1913. Amelia seems to have moved to Harrison Street and had become a registered midwife. John was still residing with his mother at 36 Harrison Street when he first enlisted at Wellington on 21 August 1914. He military personnel file notes his occupation was stationer, and that he worked with "own business". All other records give his occupation as jeweller. At his medical examination his ‘apparent age’ was given as 26 years, he was 5’9½” tall, weighing 10 stone 6 pounds; with dark complexion, brown hair and eyes. His religion was Presbyterian.
John was given the regimental number 4/585 with D Signal Company of New Zealand Engineers. While training at Awapuni Camp soon after enlisting, he wrenched his knee by stepping into a hole. He was treated for 3 weeks in the field hospital and discharged when the company was transferred to Auckland. He embarked on the “Waimana” which sailed from Auckland for Egypt on 11 October 1914 with 1600 men and 500 horses. John was laid up during the journey but was able to take part in field work in Egypt. However in May 1915 a 3-mile march brought on an attack of synovitis of the right knee.[i] This condition meant that John was not considered fit any longer for active service, and he was returned to New Zealand on the “Wimmera”, arriving in Wellington on 5 June 1915. On 11 October 1915, having served 232 days without seeing any action, John was officially discharged as being medically unfit for active service.
This seems not to have deterred John from still wanting to “do his bit” so 8 days later, on 19 October 1915, he again enlisted at Wellington. He was medically examined by Captain Hughes Steele who found him medically fit. His ‘apparent age’ was 27 years, but his description differed from his first attestation. On this he is described as 5’10” tall, with fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He had an appendix scar from an operation 6 weeks prior. His religion was Presbyterian. His occupation was stated as jeweller and he worked for Frank Grady in Willis Street, Wellington.
John was given the new regimental number of 9/1986 with the Otago Mounted Rifles. He went to Tauherenikau in the Wairarapa for training and was there inoculated for typhoid on 30 October and 7 November 1915. In January 1916 John again left for the front, this time in the 9th Reinforcements on H.M.T. 37 on “Maunganui”. After arriving in Egypt on 12 February 1916 John was transferred from the 13th Battery, Otago Mounted Rifles at Moascar on 26 March 1916.
John was again injured (details not known) and on 7 April 1916 he was admitted to the 21st General Hospital in Alexandria where he stayed until 22 April 1916. On discharge from the hospital he went to the training depot at Tel-el-Kebir until 27 May 1916 when he finally embarked for France on the “Maniton”.
He was attached to strength at Etaples from 9 June 1916 being appointed to the position of cook shortly afterwards. On 20 September he relinquished the position and marched out with the division. He was with the Divisional Ammunition Column in the field until 18 November 1916 when he was posted to the 3rd Battery 1st Brigade. On 1 December 1916 he was again appointed as cook, a position he held until he was seriously wounded in the left leg and thigh on 21 June 1917.
After being admitted to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station John died later the same day. He was buried in Plot 1, Row S, no. 38 at Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck, France. The Cemetery is situated to the north-east midway between the village of Steenwerck and the main road from Bailleul to Armentieres in Flanders. The site for Trois Arbres Cemetery was chosen for the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station in July 1916, and Plot 1 and the earlier rows of Plot II, were made and used by that hospital until April 1918. A few further burials were made in the cemetery after the German withdrawal at the end of 1918 and after the Armistice, over 700 graves were brought into it from the battlefields of Steenwerck, Nieppe, Bailleul and Neuve-Eglise.[ii]
John was entitled to the 1914/15 Star, the British War medal and plaque and scroll, all of which were sent to his mother, Amelia, in 1921. She died three years later, and was buried with her husband in Karori Cemetery.
John’s younger brother William Robert also served, from August 1916 until April 1919. He was wounded in action on two occasions but returned home to marry and have a family.
John’s brother-in-law, James Charles Evenden, who married John’s sister Lavinia in 1915 also served as a cook for nearly four years and returned home to resume married life and his career. Both William and James’ names are amongst those on the Brooklyn memorial.
Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 3, 4 July 1917, page 1
TEAZE – Died of wounds in France on the 21st June, 1917, John, beloved eldest son of Amelia and the late David Teaze, No.36 Harrison-terrace, Brooklyn; aged 28 years. “Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face.”
Research undertaken by Anne Walker with supplementary material provided by Barbara Mulligan.
[i] Knee synovitis occurs when the synovial membrane which lines and lubricates the knee joint, becomes inflamed. Symptoms include pain and swelling with stiffness in the knee joint. There will be an increased skin temperature and redness over the area. Synovitis is usually a secondary condition, caused by another ailment, such as arthritis. It may also be caused by an injury to the knee joint or cancer
[ii] http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2000052/TROIS%20ARBRES%20CEMETERY,%20STEENWERCK