CURTAYNE, Charles
| Service Numbers: | 776, 2588 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Farrier Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 1st Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Chewton, Victoria, Australia, 1892 |
| Home Town: | Chewton, Mount Alexander, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Memorials: | Bendigo Fire Brigade ANZAC Honor Roll, Bendigo Hopetoun Brass Band Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Driver, 776, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Driver, 776, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Driver, 776, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 13 Mar 1915: | Transferred AIF WW1, Driver, Divisional Ammunition Column | |
| 2 Dec 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Farrier Sergeant, Divisional Ammunition Column, Allotted new Service No. 2588 21 December 1915. | |
| 24 Nov 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Farrier Sergeant, 1st Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 2 Oct 1917: | Honoured Military Medal, Third Ypres, 'At WESTHOEK on 2nd, 3rd and 4th October, 1917, although the Battery was short of Officers, and in the absence of the Captain, these N.C.O.s [CURTAYNE and 485 F. GARDINER] attended to the ammunition supply - personally conducting and regulating the work of the Drivers along the Road - showing great devotion to duty, and strict attention to the welfare of the horses. | |
| 23 Sep 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Farrier Sergeant, 2588, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, "The Last Hundred Days", Severe burns to face and arms due to a shell explosion. | |
| 6 Mar 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Farrier Sergeant, 2588, 1st Field Artillery Brigade |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Larna Malone
Charles Curtayne, known as ‘Ky’, was born in Chewton, Vic., the son of Charles James & Annie Rosa Curtayne, of Chewton. He was a Farmer, aged 22, and had previous military service with the Chewton Rifle Club (3 years). He was amongst the early volunteers for the Expeditionary Force, enlisting on 18.8.14. The following day he left Bendigo for the Broadmeadows Camp. He was allotted Service no. 776 and appointed to ‘G’ Company, 7th Battalion. He was appointed Driver. On August 22nd he was Selected for the transport section, to act in the dual role of Farrier to the 7th Battalion and driver to ‘G’ Company.
Soldiers in one tent, calling themselves ‘The Boobaroos’ began a series of letters to the Editor of the Bendigo Advertiser, in which their correspondent, Ky Curtayne, described camp life.
Prior to Embarkation he was Presented with a shaving outfit and hunter’s knife from the members of the Bendigo Fire Brigade.
The 7th Battalion left Broadmeadows Camp on 18 October, 1914, and embarked for service overseas on board HMAT ‘Hororata’. Arriving in Egypt the battalion moved into camp at Mena, at the foot of the pyramids. (6/12/14)
In January, 1915, the Australian force was re-organized. In the 7th Battalion ‘G’ and ‘H’ Companies joined to form the new ‘D’ Company. This meant that all the men from Northern Victoria were together in one Company.
On March 13 Charles Curtayne was transferred to No. 1 Company, Divisional Ammunition Column. He was Promoted Farrier Sgt (2/12/15) and allotted the new Service number 2588 (21/12/15). He transferred to 1 Field Artillery Brigade, Bde Ammunition Column on 24/11/16.
Charles Curtayne was Awarded the Military Medal, when both he and Shoeing-Smith-Cpl. Frederick Gardiner, in the absence of officers, attended to the ammunition supply, “showing great devotion to duty, and strict attention to the welfare of the horses.” Date of action 2-4/10/1917.
He was Wounded in 1918, sustaining severe burns to his face and arms through a shell explosion.
In lieu of Special 1914 Leave he was granted leave to America, then completed a period of Non-Military Employment in England. He RTA on 9/1/20.
“The First Lot. 7th Battalion. The first men of the Bendigo district to volunteer for service in the First World War.”: Larna Malone
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