Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur Grenville Curlewis was born on 14th September 1892 at Queenscliff, Victoria to George Campbell Curlewis and Lilla May George. He was one of five siblings with three brothers and one sister.

It is unclear when the Curlewis family arrived in Western Australia, but they initially took up residence in Geraldton where Arthur with George and Selwyn attended the state school in Geraldton.

The family moved from Geraldton to Fremantle with Arthur attending Fremantle Boys School joining the Boys School Cadets. After leaving school he took up employment with Dalgety’s, a major pastoral and agriculture company.

His father and mother moved from Fremantle to Brookton to take up farming. The oldest brother Gordon was now living in Bunbury, Arthur then joined his family farming in Brookton.

In September 1914 Arthur enlisted into the A.I.F. where he was attached to the 12th Infantry Battalion. His three brothers, Gordon, George and Selwyn also enlisted into the A.I.F. all who were attached to the 16thInfantry Battalion.

Unlike his three brothers who completed training and embarked from Melbourne, Arthur completed his training in Perth before embarking with the 12th Infantry Battalion on the 2nd November 1914 from Fremantle aboard H.M.A.T. Medic A7.

With all four brothers now overseas with the A.I.F. their father and mother left the farm in Brookton moving to Lillian Street Cottesloe.

Arthur arrived in Egypt conducting further training and joining his three brothers. In March of 1915, 12thBattalion embarked from Alexandria anchoring off the island of Lemnos where they conducted training in landing operations, landing ashore with horses and transport details in preparation for the landing on the beaches at Gallipoli.

Arthur landed on the Gallipoli beach in the early hours of 25th April 1915. 12th Battalion’s role was in support to other initial landing battalions. Arthurs company supported 11th Battalion who had landed in the northern part of the beach.

Surviving the initial assault, Arthur with the battalion was redirected south of the Gallipoli Peninsula where in July of 1915 Arthur was promoted to Corporal.

By August 1915 the offensive commenced with the Australians capturing trenches at a position called Lone Pine. It was on 7th August that Arthur was at Lone Pine reinforcing the line with 12th Battalion when he was severely wounded in action, suffering gunshot wounds to the face and back, with bullets penetrating his chest and right lung.
 
He was evacuated by hospital ship where he was admitted to the No 21 General Hospital Ras-el-Tin in Alexandria Egypt on 11th August 1915.

It was during this time while in hospital that he contracted Pneumonia.

Initially Arthur fought to survive his wounds but on the 15th August 1915 at 5.45am he died as a result of his wounds received in action at Lone Pine.

He is buried at Chatby Military & War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria Egypt. He was 22 years of age.

In a letter written by Arthur’s mother Lila in December 1915 to a relative she writes,

"to accept our sincere thanks for the kind sympathy to the loss of her two eldest sons, Gordon and Selwyn and the wounding of her third son George who had been sent to London for treatment. She states that her sorrow has been greatly added to since the death of our fourth son and youngest Arthur. Who was one of the first to land at the Dardanelles.

He had not changed his clothes since landing and were left of those he had on were in rags from getting through barb wire entanglements, climbing rocks, and digging trenches. He would volunteer to go out on night patrols, having many narrow escapes, but always managed to get back safely to the trenches.

It was in the terrible battle of the 7th August that he was mortally wounded shot through both lungs where he lingered for eight days. It took six men to get him from the battlefield.

His last conscious words to the matron were: You will write and tell my mother I did want to come home again, but I did my duty to the end.

The matron who wrote said he indeed to his duty to the end as he was so brave and patient and his suffering was very great, as his case was a cruel and hopeless one.

My poor little brave soldier boy. Our hearts were indeed broken with grief when we received the news of his cruel death so soon after our two other dear sons."

Arthur’s two other brothers Gordon and Selwyn were also killed in action, with only one of the brothers, George returning home to Australia who had also received wounds in action at Gallipoli.
 
Arthur is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula and Brookton District War Memorial.

Arthur Grenville CURLEWIS was born on 14th September, 1892 in Queenscliff, Victoria

His parents were George Campbell CURLEWIS and Lilla May GEORGE

He enlisted in Helena Vale, Western Australia on 17th September, 1914 and embarked with the 12th Infantry Battalion, H Company from Fremantle, WA on board the Transport ship Medic on 2nd November, 1914

Arthur was wounded on 7th August, 1915 with gun shot wounds to his back, chest & face & was hospitalised

He died from his wounds on 15th August, 1915 in Alexandria, Egypt and is buried in Alexandria (Chatby) Cemetery, Row Q, Grave 524

Medals:  1914-15 Star, British War Medal & Victory Medal

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Three of his brothers enlisted in WW1 with two also losing their lives

1. Selwyn Lord CURLEWIS (SN 6)  Killed in Action 2nd May, 1915

2. Gordon Levason CURLEWIS (Captain) Killed in Action 9th May,         1915

3. George Campbell CURLEWIS (SN 5) returned to Australia on 7th       November, 1915