Gustaf Wilhelm Taege
Gustaf Wilhelm Taege, eldest son of Carl & Julianne Taege
Gustaf joined the Queensland Police Force in 1909 and, after serving for 40 years, retired in 1949. In 1951 he was awarded the Imperial Service Medal.
Please Note: Many of the newspaper reports below are excerpts only, rather than the full story, to show the movements of Gus Taege.
1910 Ipswich
Ipswich Ambulance Brigade 1917
Ipswich Ambulance Brigade 1917
Assaulting the Police
A North Ipswich Case
A fine of £3 imposed
Queensland Times Wednesday 6 July 1910 The case in which Samuel Owen Booth was charged with having created a disturbance in Down Street on the 2nd instant, adjourned from Monday morning, came on for hearing before the Police Magistrate (Mr C.A.M. Morris) at the Police Court, yesterday morning. Mr WH Summerville appeared for the accused. Sen Sergt King prosecuted. In reply to a question by the Police Magistrate Sen Sergt King said that the charge against Samuel Owen Booth had been altered to one of having unlawfully assaulted Const Taege in Down Street on the 2nd instant. Accused pleaded "Not guilty." First Class Constable Harry Peters deposed that at about 7 pm on Saturday last, the 2nd instant, when near the Hotel Cecil, in Down Street, North Ipswich, he saw a man come out of the Down Street hall of the hotel. He and Constable Taege were walking towards the man, who, in passing the Ambulance Brigade Office, seemed to "bore" into several persons who were standing on the footpath. The man continued on towards witness. He had a space of about 7ft in which to walk past witness and Constable Taege, but he "bored" in and bumped against Constable Taege, who was knocked against witness. Taege asked, "Did you see that?" Witness asked, "Was it accidental?" Taege replied, "No; he tried to do it. Will I arrest him?" Witness said, "Yes, certainly." Taege then caught hold of accused and said, "I arrest you on a charge of creating a disturbance." Accused said, "Don't do that; I want to go home to my tea." Accused was taken to the police station, but was bailed out by his wife. (Full report continues)
1913 Rosewood
Wednesday 29 October 1913 Queensland Times (Ipswich) Our Rosewood Letter Police Court At the Rosewood Police Court, this morning, before Messrs FJW Eichstadt and WG Collett, Otto Dorris appeared on a charge of having deserted the German steamship "Hobart". Constable Taege said, "I know the defendant now before the Court. I saw him in Rosewood on Saturday the 25th instant. He was unable to speak English. I spoke to him in German." I said, "Is your name Otto Dorris?" He said "Yes". I said "Were you on the German ship Hobart?" He replied "Yes, I ran away from that boat while it was under quarantee orders at Brisbane." I said "You answer the description of a man wanted in warrant," He replied, "Yes, I'm the man." I then read the warrant to him in German. He replied "I thought they could not arrest me after the ship left Brisbane." He further said "I will get from four to six weeks for this." On the application of the police he was remanded to Brisbane.
1915 Enoggera, Brisbane
Friday 20 August 1915 Telegraph Brisbane Labourer Charged With Receiving Evidence of arrest was given by Constable Taege, of Enoggera, who stated that, in consequence of a message yesterday from the camp commandant, he went to the Enoggera camp, and saw the defendant, who had a bag of uniforms in his possession. When questioned, he said a sergeant of the expeditionary force had sold him the uniforms for 5s. The sergeant told witness that the tunics were amongst a lot of rubbish which he had to clean up. The defendant was taken to the police station and arrested.
1919 Richmond
Police Station at Richmond ca 1906
Saturday 3 May 1919 The Northern Miner (Charters Towers)
Richmond Notes
Alleged Cattle Stealing
Police lock-up at Richmond ca 1906
At the Police Court on the 15th instant, before Mr Marcus Gallagher, PM, William Wright was charged with the alleged theft of 24 cows, branded 7TT and 27 unbranded calves, the property of Meredith Menzies and Co owners of Millungera Station. Mr PC Byrne appeared for the defendant, and Mr WH Macdonald for the plaintiff Company. Cardern Collins, manager of Millungera Station on oath stated that in consequence of information received, he got into touch with Constable Taege on the 18th March. On the 23rd March, witness in company with Constable Taege and others, left Millungera Station and entered Neumil Downs, and after going about 2 1/2 miles they came upon a cattle trail, which they followed and came upon a yard full of calves. (Story continues)
1921 Julia Creek
Wednesday 3 August 1921 Brisbane Courier Charge of Murder - Cloncurry August 2 Witness saw the accused pick up an axe and hit the deceased, who fell on his face, and did not move again. Witness rode into Julia Creek with accused, who gave himself up to Constable Taege.
1928 Port Douglas to Palmwoods
1929 Promotion to Acting-Sergeant & Transfer Palmwoods to Collinsville
Thursday 27 June 1929 the Maryborough Chronicle reported that a number of promotions and a large number of transfers of non-commissioned officers of the Queensland police force were announced. Among the promotions was Constable GW Taege (Palmwoods) to Acting-Sergeant. He was transferred to Collinsville (in charge).
Collinsville Notes
Bowen Independent Saturday 31 January 1931
​The weather was again exceedingly hot over the weekend and on Tuesday shortly after lunch a short sharp shower of rain was experienced but cleared away again until about 8 o'clock, when good heavy rain set in for about an hour. On Wednesday it was very muggy and heavy clouds were banked up all around, and shortly after tea good steady rain set in for about an hour or so.
There is rain hanging all around today (Thursday) and steady rain set in before lunch, easing off after lunch, and it looks as if we are in for plenty of rain now. The grass around town has a nice green appearance as a result of recent rains.
​Master Colin Taege, who has been spending the Christmas vacation with his parents, Sergt and Mrs Taege, left last Wednesday for Ipswich, where he is attending the Grammar School.
Stanley St, Collinsville 1930
1934 Collinsville to Kingaroy
Wednesday 7 November 1934 Bowen Independent reported on the transfer of Acting Sergeant Taege from Collinsville to Kingaroy.
​
Thursday 26 September 1935 Daily Mercury (Mackay)
Promotions Announced - Amongst those to be Sergeants was GW Taege (Kingaroy)
1939 Stanthorpe to Maryborough, Holiday in Brisbane & Promotion to Senior-Sergeant
Friday 16 June 1939 Maryborough Chronicle Police Appointments Four new appointees to the Maryborough Police force arrived to take up duty this week. Sergeant (1st class) GW Taege came from Stanthorpe to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Sergeant J Troy, while Sergeant (2nd class) DF Buttner from Bundaberg filled the vacancy created by the retirement of Sergeant G Brazier. The other appointments are those of Constable HL Horrbuckle (Gayndah) in place of Constable E Cartwright, transferred to Gayndah and Constable WEG Gill (Brisbane) in place of Constable F Nolan transferred to CI Branch, Brisbane. Holiday in Brisbane (from Maryborough) Wednesday 9 October 1940 Telegraph, Brisbane Maryborough Social Sergeant Taege, Mrs Taege and family left by car to spend a holiday in Brisbane and Ipswich. Promotion to Senior-Sergeant Saturday 15 February 1941 Maryborough Chronicle SERGEANT GW TAEGE PROMOTED BRISBANE February 14 - The appointment of five sergeants to the rank of senior-sergeant was announced by the Commissioner of Police (Mr CJ Carroll) today. They were: Sergeants D Brennan (Brisbane), G Cullen (Wynnum), W Flori (Dalby), GW Taege (Maryborough) and C Howie (Southport).
1941 Return to Cairns from Innisfail
1948 Conference in Brisbane - from Maryborough
Saturday 25 September 1948 Maryborough Chronicle Police Inspector for Conference After a period of ten weeks in charge of the Maryborough Police district, Sub-Inspector GW Taege leaves for Brisbane on Monday to attend the District Police Inspectors conference in Brisbane. Sub-Inspector Taege, who came from Bundaberg to relieve Inspector Brannelly, has controlled this district for a total period of 16 weeks since the beginning of April - the period which preceded the late Inspector Brannelly's death. The conference in Brisbane which Sub-Inspector Taege will attend will deal with police administrative matters, one of the principal subjects of which will be the Royal tour arrangements.
1949 Farewell from Maryborough
Monday 29 August 1949 Maryborough Chronicle INSPECTOR TAEGE FAREWELLED Sub-Inspector GW Taege, who has been in charge of the Maryborough police district for the past 15 months, was farewelled by district police officers on Thursday afternoon. He was presented with a wallet of notes and accepted a brush, comb and mirror set on behalf of his wife from all district members of the force. All available Maryborough members and a number of men from surrounding stations attended the function. Sub-Inspector Taege will leave for Bundaberg at the weekend. Inspector A Andersen of Roma has been appointed to Maryborough. Senior-Sergeant Coxen, who presided at the gathering, paid a tribute to the qualities of the Sub-Inspector as an officer of the force and as a man. He was supported by Senior-Sergeant Cooke, Sergeants Theuerkauf, Duncan, PC Constable Quinn and Constable Schultze. In responding, Sub-Inspector Taege thanked the men of the district for their loyalty during his term as District Officer and emphasised the necessity of maintaining the unity that existed in the district. He said that the gifts would always be treasured in remembrance of the happy associations he had had with member of the police force over 39 years. During his service Sub-Insector Taege has been stationed in "outback" stations and, among others, at Rosewood, Newmarket, Gilliat, Julia Creek, Palmwoods, Collinsville, Kingaroy, Gympie, Stanthorpe, Cairns and Bundaberg.
1949 Retirement
Thursday 17 November 1949 Brisbane Telegraph Sub-Inspector GW Taege is to retire from the Police Force as from November 19. He joined the force in 1909. He served at Depot, Ipswich, Goodna, Roma Street, Rosewood, Kingaroy, Gilliat, Julia Creek, Port Douglas, Palmwoods, Collinsville, Kingaroy, Gympie, Stanthorpe, Maryborough and Cairns. ​He was appointed Sub-Inspector on December 20, 1946.
1951 Imperial Service Medal
Thursday 19 July 1951 Central Queensland Herald (Rockhampton) BRISBANE July 17 - Fifteen retired policemen were awarded the Imperial Service Medal by the Governor (Sir John Laverack) today. Among them was former Inspector J Bookless who served for 40 years in the police force. The Governor thanked the retired men for their years of service to the State. Others who will receive medals, but could not be present at the ceremony, are Inspector M Anderson, Sub-Inspectors M Elford, W Gallagher, W Slack, G Taege.