Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Rupert Coleman Curnow was born on 30 October 1898 at Ballarat VIC. At the time of his birth his father, Josiah (1856-1942) was 42, and his mother Florence(1873-1929) was 25. Rupert was an only child. He was initially educated at a Ballarat Primary school then later at Ballarat Grammar School. In 1916 he enrolled at Melbourne University and had started a degree in Medicine.

When Rupert enlisted he was a single, 18-year-old University student living in Melbourne. His enlistment records state that he was 5 foot 10 inches tall ( cm) and weighed 140 lbs ( kg). His complexion was fresh, his eyes were blue, and his hair brown. Rupert's previous militia service included 3 years in the cadets and 6 months with the Melbourne University Rifles. His religious denomination was given as the Church of England.

An interesting note in his service records indicates that his parents had provided conditional consent to enlisting and that he was not to embark on overseas service until he attained the age of 19. The O.C (Officer Commanding) of the 3rd Military District included a further note stating that he is to go to the Light Horse, providing he passed the riding test. Rupert clearly did pass the test as he was taken on strength with the 30th reinforcements of the 8th Light Horse Regiment on 5 January 1917, However, he did not embark until 1 November 1917, therefore, satisfying his parent's conditional consent.

Rupert embarked on HMAT A73 Commonwealth at Melbourne, Victoria, and joined the EEF (Egyptian Expeditionary Forces) at Moascar on 10 December 1917. Upon arriving he was shortly admitted to the hospital suffering from bronchitis.

Rupert was wounded in the Jordan Valley and spent some time in a military hospital in Jerusalem. On being discharged, he returned to his unit to take part in the advance to Damascus, and later Aleppo. He was promoted to Corporal in late 1917 and became part of the force that remained in Palestine until late 1919.

On 8 July 1919 Rupert embarked on the SS Malta for a return to Australia. For his service, during the war, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Upon returning to Australia, Rupert decided against continuing his studies in medicine and instead applied for land under the Soldier Settlement Scheme. In August 1922 he was granted 400 acres at Biggara, east of Corryong.