Telfar, Kevin

Kevin William Telfar was born on 22 March 1922, third child and eldest son of William Douglas Telfar (1901-1962) and Ida May Telfar (nee Foreman) (1899-2002). His grandfather, also named William, owned Telfar’s Billiard Saloon in Waitara which is where the family resided.

Kevin attended Waitara School where he won the Herbert Smith Memorial Cup for athletics in 1936. After finishing his education he became a farm labourer, employed by J. McKenzie in Motunui, whilst still living at home on Brown Street.

Kevin enlisted to serve in the Second World War at the age of 19 and was placed on guard duty in Wellington for several years until he was sent overseas as a Gunner with the New Zealand Artillery 7th Anti-Tank Regiment. This unit was redeployed from North Africa to Italy in October 1943 where it provided ammunition transport, patrols and fire support to infantry brigades.

Kevin Telfar was killed in action in Italy on 1 August 1944 aged 22, one of 154 men from his regiment who died or were wounded during the conflict. He is buried in Florence War Cemetery.