Profile

TARGUSE, John David
(Service number 5199)

Aliases
First Rank Private Last Rank

Birth

Date 29/02/1880 Place of Birth Timaru

Enlistment Information

Date 12 May 1917 Age 37 years
Address at Enlistment Eden terrace, Timaru
Occupation Piano tuner
Previous Military Experience
Marital Status Single
Next of Kin Mrs Susan TARGUSE (mother), Eden terrace, Auckland
Religion Brethren
Medical Information Height 5 feet 3⅜ inches. Weight 130 lbs. Complexion dark. Eyes grey. Hair black. Scar over bridge of nose.

Military Service

Served with NZ Armed Forces Served in Army
Military District

Embarkation Information

Body on Embarkation
Unit, Squadron, or Ship
Date
Transport
Embarked From Destination
Other Units Served With
Last Unit Served With

Military Awards

Campaigns
Service Medals
Military Awards

Award Circumstances and Date

No information

Prisoner of War Information

Date of Capture
Where Captured and by Whom
Actions Prior to Capture
PoW Serial Number
PoW Camps
Days Interned
Liberation Date

Discharge

Date Reason

Hospitals, Wounds, Diseases and Illnesses

Post-war Occupations

Caretaker

Death

Date 18 March 1963 Age 83 years
Place of Death
Cause
Notices
Memorial or Cemetery Waikumete Cemetery
Memorial Reference Protestant Division B, Row 3, Plot 67
New Zealand Memorials

Biographical Notes

John David Targuse was the second son of Alfred and Susan (née Cant) Targuse. He was educated at Timaru Main School and Temuka School. Mr Targuse died in June 1899. It was some years later that many of the family left the district. John won a special award in the 7th class at the Wesleyan Sunday School in 1896 and in 1898 was engaging in debates conducted by the Wesleyan Mutual Improvement Society. He also played football in Timaru. Mr J. Targuse, who was a member of the railway carpenters’ team, was transferred to Auckland in October 1908. His many sterling qualities were noted – a willing worker, a good unionist, and a ready giver to those in need. As of 1913 John was a piano tuner at Foxton. John David Targuse, a piano tuner, was drawn in the sixth ballot in April 1917. ‘In Featherston Camp orders it is announced that No. 56199 Private John David Targuse, Featherston Details, has been found guilty by district court-martial of “deserting His Majesty’s Service,” and sentenced to undergo eleven months’ imprisonment with hard labour.’ (Evening Post, 8 October 1917). On 27 June 1918 he was posted as a deserter. In May 1919 he was listed as a military defaulter. His oldest brother, Alfred George Targuse who had remained in Timaru, was drawn in the ballot in August 1918. John married Alice Beatrice King in 1928. Alice died just four years later.

Sources

NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [25 March 2020]; School Admission records [27 March 2020]; Waikumete Cemetery burial record (Auckland Council) [28 March 2020]; Timaru Herald, 20 October 1908, 21 August 1918, Evening Post, 8 October 1917 (Papers Past) [28 March 2020]

External Links

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.

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