Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Henry (Harry) Charles Curtis (122)
Born at Mount Albion, Queensland in 1894, Henry Charles (Harry) Curtis settled in the district with his parents, James and Ellen Curtis. The family was among the first to settle in the Murray Upper valley, arriving in 1898. They moved from Cooktown to Cardwell that year, traveling by boat and then purchased a dray to take them over the rough bush track to their selection, Crescent Lagoon, in the Murray valley. They farmed the property for many years and their children attended first Cardwell School, and then the Murray River Upper Provisional School when it opened in 1904. James Curtis was treasurer of the parents’ committee that successfully petitioned for this new school at Murray Upper. He also served as a Cardwell Shire Councillor in 1919. Before joining up, Harry had worked as a surveyor, after training as an apprentice in Innisfail for five years.

Harry was one of the first of the local young men to enlist for service. A Farewell in the Murray Upper School was held for him on the night of 30 December 1914. Mrs Butler, mother of Hugh Ramsay Butler, Harry’s comrade, recorded that 23 attended the farewell and dancing went until 3.00am the following morning. His father went with him on the steamer to Townsville to see him off.

He joined the AIF at Townsville and took his oath on 2 January 1915 at the age of 20 years. As Trooper No. 122 he was appointed to ‘A’ squadron of the 11th Light Horse Regiment (4th Light Horse Brigade). He spent some time training at Enoggera Barracks before sailing from Brisbane on HMAT Medic on 2 June 1915. In Egypt further strenuous training took place. However, by May it had become clear to those in command that reinforcements were needed immediately at Gallipoli and the only available strength were the Light Horse regiments in Egypt. Curtis’s squadron was transferred temporarily to the 2nd Light Horse at the Gallipoli Peninsula in August 1915. The 2nd Light Horse had trained as infantry in Egypt because horses were unsuitable for the Gallipoli campaign.

Curtis was hospitalized on Lemnos briefly in September. Lemnos was an island 60 miles (97km) west of the Dardanelles, 625 miles (1006km) north of Alexandria. Here two Australian Stationary Hospitals and Number 3 Australian General Hospital were located. Harry returned to duty at Gallipoli in late September and subsequently took part in the evacuation. When the troops left the peninsula, ‘A’ squadron left the trenches on the night of the 19/20th December and were amongst the last troops to leave for Lemnos. The unit disembarked at Alexandria on 26 December 1916. Curtis continued to serve in the Middle East with the Light Horse until the close of the war effort.

Returning to its mounted role, the 11th Light Horse joined the forces defending the Suez Canal. In the ensuing months it conducted patrols and participated in several forays into the Sinai Desert. In April 1917 the Regiment moved into Palestine to join the main British and Dominion advance; its first major battle was on 19 April when it attacked (dismounted) as part of the ill-fated second battle of Gaza.

The 11th were at Beersheba on 31 October 1917 but they were the unit which played the reserve role, engaged on flank protection duties and too widely scattered to take part while the 4th and 12th Light Horse regiments carried out the famous successful charge under enemy fire. On 7 November 1917 the Regiment suffered a tragic reversal when ‘C’ troop of ‘A’ Squadron was almost annihilated. Two squadrons went forward at the gallop spearheading a charge on the Turkish position but one troop missed the signal to dismount (to fight with rifles) and continued on too far in front of the infantry. They were cut down by enemy fire. Curtis lost a number of his comrades that day.

When Gaza finally fell, Turkish resistance in southern Palestine collapsed. The 11th Light Horse participated in the pursuit that followed. In Palestine on 20 November 1917 Curtis was recommended for Lance Corporal after his Corporal was killed in action. However, he reverted to Trooper at his own request.

Harry Curtis was granted early repatriation and embarked from Suez on the City of Poona to return to Australia in April-May 1919. During his war service he suffered various illnesses, such as malaria, and endured several periods in hospital, including the ship’s hospital during his return voyage. He was discharged (medically unfit) on 19 July 1919 having served for over four years, of which most had been spent abroad. He received the standard three WW1 medals.

According to his younger brother, Bert, after he returned from the war Harry never talked about it. He served a term as Councillor for Cardwell Shire Council during the 1920s. Harry continued the family tradition of farming at Murray Upper until he sold his property in the 1960s to go into semi-retirement on an 18 acre (seven hectare) block at Bilyana.

His name is also to be found on the WW2 nominal roll (Q221859), as he volunteered at Cardwell in April 1942. He served in the 18th Battalion VDC until March 1944. Harry Curtis stood for council in 1943 and again in 1952 but was unsuccessful. He died following a car accident in August 1970.
Researched and Written by The Cardwell and District Historical Society, Cardwell Queensland.