John Oswald Taylor was born in Ponsonby, Auckland as John Oswald Taylor, to David Wood Taylor (1854-1931) & Mary Ellen Atkins (1861-1927), as an adult he went by the name Oswald Taylor.

His known siblings:
1880 - 1941 John Oswald Taylor (+Sutton +Harrison)
1883 - David Oswald Taylor (+Yeates div)
1886 - 1934 Stella Elizabeth Annie Taylor (+Berryman div +Walker)
1897 - Ida Leah Glenton Taylor
1900 - 1954 Helen Pretoria Wood Taylor (+Ace +Kerr)
1903 - 1973 Francis Lawrence Taylor (+Bedwell)
1905 - 1905 Alfred Arthur Taylor (7 months)

Auckland Star, 7 Sep 1891
ARSON William McDonald was indicted on a charge that on the 9th of July 1891, he unlawfully set fire to the dwelling house of David Wood Taylor, situated in Ponsonby .. Mr Taylor went to a performance in the Opera House, taking Mrs Taylor and one of their boys with them. They left in charge of the house, John Oswald Taylor, a boy eleven years of age, the other children being at the house of a neighbour named Pinkerton .. David Wood Taylor, brickmaker, deposed to living in Clarence and was a cousin of the prisoner .. see link for full story

NZ Herald, 11 Jan 1892
Stealing Fruit William Frick (13 years), John Oswald Taylor (12 years), Hugh Wilson (10 years), Ernest John Gray (13 years), Francis James Kirk (14 years), were charged with the larceny of a quantity of apricots valued at 5s, the property of John McDougal Simpson ... His Worship said he did not wish to injure the character of the boys and yet did not wish to deal with the boys in such a manner that others would be encouraged to commit the same offence. However, on the present occasion he felt inclined to be lenient and dismissed the offenders, against whom a conviction was recorded. He expressed a wish that they should all receive a severe thrashing from their parents as soon as they reached home.

OSWALD MARRIES
On 29 Aug 1904 to Louisa Margaret Sutton in Ponsonby. They only had 1 child
* 1904-1905) David Clarence Taylor
. born 15 Clarence St., Ponsonby, Auckland.
NOTE Louisa had had a son in Masterton on 13 Nov 1902, Lawrence Sutton. I have found him as living in Upper Plain and attending Fernridge school in Masterton from 1910 - 1915 so it seems Louisa returned to Masterton after she and Oswald separated 1907/08. Lawrence married Edith Marie Saker (1907-1994) in Masterton in 1928

Auckland Star, 25 Oct 1905
TAYLOR - On October 25th 1905, at his parents' residence, Upper Nelson-street, David Clarence, only and dearly beloved infant son of John Oswald and Louisa Margaret Taylor; aged 11 months. Marlborough papers please copy

Gisborne Times, 20 Nov 1907
Alleged Desertion John Oswald Taylor was charged with having unlawfully deserted his wife at Hastings on September 10. Accused was remanded to Hastings to appear on Friday morning, bail being allowed, self £10 and one surety of a like amount.

Hastings Standard, 22 Nov 1907
Magistrate's Court John Oswald Taylor, who was arrested on a charge of wife desertion and failing to provide her with adequate means of support, pleaded not guilty.
Margaret Taylor, wife of the accused, on being sworn, said that her husband left her on September 10th without saying where he was going. She never had any communication from his until a few days ago, when he sent a telegram from Gisborne. He left her without means.
Accused said that he had sent his wife £2 on one occasion and £1 on another, for the purpose of enabling her to join him at Gisborne. These facts were admitted by his wife.
The Magistrate asked accused if he had anything to say and he replied that he was willing to take his wife to Gisborne with him and that she was willing to go. "That being the case" said the Bench "the case will be dismissed"

Hastings Standard, 20 Jan 1908
At the Court this morning, before Mr D. McLeod, J.P., John Oswald Taylor was charged with assaulting Lewis Alexander Burbery, cause him actual bodily harm. Burbury appeared with two gashes on his head and swooned whilst giving evidence. Bail was allowed in accused's own recognisance of £25 and one other in the same amount.

Poverty Bay Herald, 7 March 1908
At the Supreme Court yesterday, John Oswald Taylor was acquitted on a charge of assault against Samuel Hill and Michael Regan. The former was acquitted, Regan being convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment.

Hastings Standard, 23 Oct 1908
John Oswald Taylor was charged with assaulting a Maori. Accused pleaded not guilty and was remanded until next Tuesday, bail being fixed at accused in his own recognisance of £10.

Hastings Standard, 27 Oct 1909
At Court this morning John Oswald Taylor pleaded not guilty to assaulting Matthew Ryland. After hearing evidence, accused was convicted and fined 40s or in default one month's imprisonment.

5 Jan 1915 Oswald was now living in Castlemaine, Victoria when he enlisted for war. He was 5'5" & 126lb (57kg). He declared he was aged 31 (he turned 35, 4 days prior). He also said he was single.
He served as Private 677 with the 13th Light Horse Regiment, Headquarters and Machine Gun Section, embarking from Melbourne on board A34 Persic, on 28 May 1915 with the 2nd Pioneer Battalion. His next of kin was his father David Wood Taylor, of Clarence Street, Ponsonby, Auckland, NZ. He served in Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

30 Nov 1915 He was sent to Hospital at Gallipoli Peninsula with a wounded face & shell shock and taken on strength of Regiment, Gallipoli 3 days later, 3 Dec 1915, but his shell shocked meant he was discharged to Base Cairo on 27 Dec 1915.

A letter, date stamped as received 6 Jan 1916 from Adams Street, Castlemaine .. To the Defence Department. Looking over the list of the wounded in the Thursday Age I notice the name of Private O. Taylor of the 13th L. Horse & as I have had no word about it I would like to know how he is as he is my intended husband & when he went he told me I should be the first to know if anything happened, as I would like to known where he is or how he is wounded. His parents reside in New Zealand but he enlisted from Castlemaine as he had been here working. His number is 577, 13th Light, 12th Division, Egypt that is his address so, as I am anxious to find out something of him as I think I ought to be made known. If my address is wanted send to Miss N. Brown, Adams St., Castlemaine.

On 10 Jan 1916 Ellen M. Taylor received a reply to her query as to the condition of Oswald. The reply read .. Dear Madam, In reply to your letter (undated) concerning No 677, Private O. Taylor, 13th Light Horse Regiment, I have to inform you that you are not recorded as his next of kin, consequently you were not advised of his having been reported wounded. No further particulars have been received and as his condition is not stated to be serious it may be assumed, in the absence of same, that satisfactory progress is being maintained. His next-of-kin, shown as father, residing at Auckland, N.Z., will be promptly advised upon receipt of any later information. Yours faithfully, Capt. Officer 1/c Base Records. Miss N. Brown, Adams Street, Castlemaine, Vic

Auckland Star, 7 Jan 1916
Trooper Oswald Taylor, 13th Australian Light Horse, who has been reported wounded, is an old Ponsonby boy and the eldest son of Mr David Taylor, 15 Clarence Street, Ponsonby. He was residing in Australia at the outbreak of the war and enlisted in the above corps. Trooper Taylor was born in Ponsonby some 36 years ago and followed the trade of a painter. He took a keen interest in all athletics before leaving New Zealand, especially in football. He is the elder of two soldier sons. The younger, David (David Oswald Taylor) is leaving with the Ninth reinforcements.

On 14 March 1916 Oswald was transferred to 2nd Battalion from the 13th Light Horse and remustered as Driver.
On 27 March 1916 he was admitted to Lahore Indian Hospital
14 April 1916 he was returned to duty from the hospital

During 1917 he had various offences, including AWOL 7 days and deprived 10 days pay.
On 17 Oct 1917 he was wounded in action
On 23 July 1918 he was Gassed & Shell shocked and admitted to 41st Sty. Hospital.

During 1918 he had various offences totalling a loss of 30 days pay

OSWALD re-MARRIES
On 3 Feb 1919 to Ethel M. Harrison, at the Parish Church, Darlington, County Durham, North East England.
* Ethel gave her particulars as: a Spinster aged 25 of 20 Cumberland St., Darlington. Her father as Thomas Harrison of same address.
* Oswald gave his particulars as: a Soldier aged 35 (39.1), a Bachelor, at the No 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny. His father as David Wood Taylor, Clarence St., Ponsonby, Auckland, NZ

On 5 Sep 1919 Oswald, as Private 677, 2nd Pioneer Battalion, with his wife Ethel, returned to Australia per the H.T. "Prinz Ludwig".
On 12 Dec 1919 he was discharged from service. He wrote that any medals be forwarded to his wife Ethel Taylor, 101 Lennex St., Richmond.

On 11 Sep 1919 Miss Nellie Brown of Adams Street, Castlemaine wrote to the Officer in Charge of Base Records .. Dear Sir, I am seeking information concerning Driver Oswald Taylor, Number 677, 2nd Pioneer Battalion, who was expected to arrive on the Prinz Ludwig which disembarked troops on the 5th inst. His friends could not find him. He was accompanied by his wife. He enlisted in Castlemaine in Jan 1915. I will be obliged if you could give me the name and address of his next of kin when he enlisted as I will then be able find if he is the same Oswald Taylor as I am interested in. I remain Dear Sir, Yours Respectfully (Miss) Nellie Brown. P.S. Would it be possible that they disembarked in Adelaide.

Reply 16th Sep 1919 .. Dear madam, I have to acknowledge receipt of you letter dated 11th September 1919 and in reply to state according to the records, No 677, Private O. Taylor, 2nd Pioneer Battalion, returned to Australia on 5.9.1919 per H. T. 'Prinz Ludwig' accompanied by his wife. A communication addressed as under should reach him:- No 677, Private O. Taylor, 2nd Pioneer Battalion, c/o S.O.I. & R.S., Victoria Barracks, Melbourne. The above mentioned soldier enlisted at Castlemaine, Vic., and next-of-kin (recorded on enlistment) is shown as resident of New Zealand. Yours faithfully, Major, Officer 1/c Base Records.

His BROTHER David
11 Aug 1927 . In Divorce To Ruth Taylor (Yeates), formerly of Auckland, married woman, but whose present whereabouts are unknown. Take notice that a Citation has been issued out of the Supreme Court of New Zealand at Dunedin, citing you to appear and answer the Petition of DAVID OSWLAD TAYLOR, of Dunedin, Bootmaker, wherein he prays for a dissolution of his marriage with you on the grounds of desertion and such Citation intimates that in default of your so doing the Court will proceed to hear the said Petition and to pronounce sentence therin notwithstanding you absence.
* Later .. Ruth was a no-show Petitioner, in evidence, stated that he married respondent on Aug 31 1918. They lived in Auckland. After a while she was in the habit of visiting friends named Sadgrove at Manurewa. He objected to this because he thought she was getting too friendly with one of the sons. On being spoken to she refused to leave this place and packed up her things and left him. That was in December 1922. Later he met his wife in Queen Street, Auckland, arm in arm with Sadgrove. She told him he could do what he liked.
Mr Irwin: What did you do to Sadgrove?
Witness: I cleaned him up.
Mr Irwin: You assaulted him?
Witness: Yes.
Witness continued that he had not seen his wife since. He had been living with his people after that. He left Auckland two and a half years ago and came to Dunedin, where he had worked in a boot factory ever since.
Gertrude Sampson, sister of petitioner, gave corroborative evidence.
Thomas Grogan also gave evidence as to petitioner's residence in Dunedin.
A decree nisi was granted, to be moved absolute at the expiration of three months.

DEATH of his MOTHER
TAYLOR - On October 15 1927, at her residence, 15 Clarence Street, Ponsonby, Mary Ellen, dearly-beloved wife of David Wood Taylor, aged 66 years. Funeral will leave the above address at 2 p.m. to-day (Monday) for Waikumete Cemetery.

DEATH of his FATHER
27 July 1931 . Elderly Man's Death A verdict of death from poison was returned by the coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt,S.M., at an inquest yesterday afternoon concerning the death of David Wood Taylor, aged 77, who was found dead in a room at 15 Clarence Street, Ponsonby, on Monday evening. Sergeant G. H. Lambert gave evidence of finding a bottle and a glass mug of the poison on a table in the room. Other witnesses said that deceased, although he seemed to be in his usual health on the day of his death, had recently been receiving medical attention.

DEATH of his 1st wife LOUISA in NZ
Waihi Daily Telegraph, 21 April 1936
TAYLOR - On April 20th, at the residence of her brother, Mr Percy Sutton, Old Tauranga Road, Waihi, Louisa Margaret, widow of the late Oswald; aged 54 years. The Funeral will leave Mr Percy Sutton's residence to-morrow (Wednesday) at 1.30 p.m. for Waihi Cemetery.

DEATH of OSWALD TAYLOR
The Age Melbourne, 12 June 1941
TAYLOR - On June 11, at his residence, 107 Denmark-street, Kew, Oswald Taylor, beloved husband of Ethel. Flowers direct to Padbury's chapel, 13 Cotham-road, Kew.

The Age (Melbourne) 13 June 1941
TAYLOR - The Friends of the late Mr Oswald Taylor of Denmark-street, Kew, are respectfully informed that his remains will be interred in the Burwood Cemetery. The funeral will leave Padbury's Chapel, 13 Cotham road, Kew, this afternoon at 2 o'clock. Original Anzac. At Rest.