Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Reginald Corfield Jaggar was born on 17 July 1888 at Winchester, South Canterbury, the second son of Frederick Charles and Florence (née Woolridge) Jaggar. Frederick and Florence who had married in 1885, had four sons and four daughters. Reginald started his schooling at Motueka School, the two children immediately younger that Reginald being born at Motueka. In April 1896 the family moved to Christchurch where Reginald attended Harewood, Christchurch East, Gloucester Street schools and lastly Riccarton School, leaving there for work at the age of fifteen. He had received a Standard V prize at Harewood School in 1901, his older brother Willie receiving a Standard VI prize. In 1911 and 1914, he was living with his parents at Riccarton, working as a piano tuner. Reginald Corfield Jaggar married Cresina Florence Thomas in Christchurch on 19 May 1915. Florence Gwendoline was born on 19 December 1915 and William Reginald on 15 September 1916.

The Canterbury Military Service Board continued its sitting on 20 December 1916. “Some peculiar circumstances were revealed in a case in which Reginald Corfield Jaggar, a piano-tuner, of 74 Lower High Street, applied for consideration in regard to his call under the ballot. Mr Hunt, who appeared for the applicant, stated that Jaggar did not wish to evade service, but only asked for some consideration in view of his family circumstances. Applicant stated that he was married on May 19, 1915. He had two children, one 12 months old and the other three months. Both were delicate. His wife was in bad health, and she could not look after both the children, especially now, when the younger one was very ill. He had a brother at the front. He asked for a little time until the health of his family improved. The chairman said that the circumstances were extraordinary. He would impress upon appellant that he would be very unwise to increase his liabilities. The appeal would be dismissed, but the appellant would be allowed three months’ grace.” He was quite prepared to go to the front as soon as his younger child was more advanced and his wife had improved in health. The chairman said the Board had to leave sentiment out of these matters.

So it was that Reginald Jaggar enlisted on 21 December 1916. A piano tuner, married with two children and of Church of England affiliation, he named his wife as next-of-kin – Mrs C. F. Jaggar, 74 Lower High Street, Christchurch. Rifleman R. C. Jaggar embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, departing per the “Maunganui” on 12 June 1917 and disembarking at Devonport, England on 15 August. Rifleman Reginald C. Jaggar, 51848, embarked at Glasgow on 1 April 1918 to return to New Zealand per the “Athenic”. He was discharged on 23 August 1918, no longer physically fit for War Service on account of wounds received in Action, and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He had been wounded on 21 November 1917, reported a severe case in December.

Reginald settled back into his piano tuning work, possibly retiring in the early 1940s. He and Cresina had three more children. Reginald Corfield Jaggar died at Christchurch on 5 February 1962, aged 73 years, his funeral service held at the Linwood Avenue Crematorium. Chresena had died just four months before. They were survived by their three daughters and two sons. There is a plaque inscribed to their memory at the Canterbury Memorial Gardens. Reginald’s brother Cyril Henry Jaggar also served in World War One, and his older brother William Charles Jaggar enlisted in May 1918 but went no further.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [10 June 2025]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [10 June 2025]; School Admission records (Motueka & Canterbury branches NZSG) [12 June 2025]; Sun, 20 December 1916, Timaru Herald, 21 December 1916, Press, 28 December 1901, 21 December 1916, 9 October 1961, 7 February 1962 (Papers Past) [10 & 12 June 2025]; Canterbury Memorial Gardens plaque (Find A Grave) [12 June 2025]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.