CURLEY, Edward Grey
| Service Number: | 2140 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 May 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Walgett, New South Wales, Australia, 4 March 1886 |
| Home Town: | Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Newcastle South Public School, St. Mary's-Marist Bros' School, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, |
| Occupation: | Bridge Builder |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France , 8 August 1918, aged 32 years |
| Cemetery: |
Heath Cemetery, Picardie I E 20, Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cooks Hill Life Saving & Surf Club War Memorial, Cooks Hill Lifesaving & Surf Club War Memorial, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Junction Soldier's Memorial, Merewether Memorial Gates |
World War 1 Service
| 11 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2140, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 2140, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: '' | |
| 14 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 2140, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wandilla, Sydney | |
| 10 Aug 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2140, 13th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , GSW to 3rd finger on left hand | |
| 26 May 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
| 12 Sep 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
| 24 Sep 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2140, 13th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, Cautused right foot due to fall of earth | |
| 20 Jul 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 13th Infantry Battalion, Temp Sgt, promolgated after KIA |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Edward Grey CURLEY, (Service Number 2140) is recorded in the Government Gazette at 31 December 1911 as working in the Permanent Way Branch in the workshops at Newcastle, and in 1914 as a bridge builders’ assistant. On his Attestation Papers signed 18 May 1915, Curley gives ‘Steel Bridge Builder’ with ‘assistant’ appended. It is from these papers that his second Christian name is found. Curley was married, to Ada, but they had not lived together for four years. They had only one child, a son, Aubrey Curley.
He left Australia on board HMAT ‘Wandilla’ on 14 June 1915, only a month after enlisting.
Submitted 9 June 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Edward and Ellen CURLEY, Hunter Street, Merewether, New South Wales
Sergeant Edward Grey Curley (13th Battalion) was killed In France on August 8, after three and a half years' service. He was 35 years of age. His widow and son live at Merewether. Prior to enlisting Sergeant Curley was employed at the Government yards.
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Edward Grey CURLEY (Service Number 2140) is recorded in the Government Gazette at 31st December 1911 as working in the Permanent Way Branch of the Railways in the workshops at Newcastle, and in 1914 as a bridge builders’ assistant. His Attestation Papers were signed 18th May 1915. Curley was married, to Ada, but they had not lived together for four years. They had only one child, a son, Aubrey Curley.
Edward Curley had been born in Walgett on 4th March 1885. He left Australia on board HMAT ‘Wandilla’ on 14th June 1915, only a month after enlisting,. He joined the 13th Australian Infantry Battalion at Gallipoli on 2nd Aug ust. Three weeks later he was evacuated to Lemnos (Greek Island). He was sick with enteritis. He returned to Gallipoli in September.
After the end of the Gallipoli campaign in December he returned to Alexandria (Egypt). In June 1916 he went to the Western Front through Marseilles (France). He was wounded in the left hand in August and evacuated to England where he remained for the rest of the year. In December he appears to have gone Absent Without Leave for most of the month and for this he was severely punished with 26 days Field Punishment No. 2, the loss of 68 days’ pay, and detention for 16 days. When he rejoined the 13th Battalion he was promoted to Lance Corporal and then Corporal from 22nd June.
He was again wounded, this time with a contusion to his foot caused by an earth fall, on 24th September, and was absent from the unit until late October. In January 1918 he had leave for a fortnight. In April he was again hospitalised for a month.
On 4th July he was promoted to Temporary Sergeant and was killed in action on 8 August 1918. During an advance at Villers-Bretonneux his platoon had advanced about eight miles and nearly reached its objective, when Curley was killed outright by a shell, though other reports suggest machine gun fire.
He is buried in Heath Cemetery 1½ miles N. of Harbonnières.
The military authorities, perhaps overlooking the estranged wife, had given the 1914-1915 Star to Edward Curley’s father. He refused to hand it back, stating to a member of the Provost Marshal’s staff who visited him, that he thought that Ada Curley was an unfit person to have possession of the medal. He said that he would hold it in trust for his young grandson – Edward’s son, Aubrey. If the military authorities would guarantee that Ada would not get the medal, he would hand it over. Eventually, the matter reached the Minister for Defence. He decided that the grandfather, who was the legal trustee for the lad, who was then 12-years-old, should hold the medal in trust.
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery.
104 years ago today, on the 8th August 1918, Sergeant Edward Grey Curley, 13th Battalion, also known as Teddie or Teddy (Reg No-2140), steel bridge mechanic (Government Rail Yards), from 11 Hunter Street, Merewether (The Junction), New South Wales, father of one (Aubrey Edward, born 1909, died 1977, district unknown), was Killed in Action at Morcourt, Third Battle of Amiens, age 33.
Born at Walgett, New South Wales on the 4th March 1885 to Edward William (died 28.5.1939) and Ellen (died 20.6.1941) Curley; husband of Ada Curley nee Cleary (married 1908, New Lambton, N.S.W., died 1962?) of 5 Dent Street, Merewether, New South Wales and 465 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst, N.S.W., Teddie enlisted May 1915 at Liverpool, N.S.W.
Admitted to hospital 22.8.1915 (enteritis - inflammation of your small intestine), 5.4.1918 (pyorrhoea - more popularly known as periodontitis, is one of the most widespread dental conditions for humans).
Wounded in action - 10.8.1916 (GSW finger & left hand, slight), 24.9.1917 (contused right foot from fall of earth).
Edward's parents received a letter of sympathy from Captain William Parsonage M.C. (Reg No-552, 13th Battalion, Original Anzac).
Teddie's name was mentioned at a Cooks Hill Lifesaving and Surf Club meeting.
Teddie is resting at Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France. Plot I Row E Grave 20.
On the 9th of July 1918 his Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Marks, recommends Sergeant Curley for an award because of the following action:
On the 4th July 1918, during the operation against VAIRE WOOD, East of Corbie, Corporal Curley was in-charge of a section on the first wave of the advance.
Shortly after leaving the jumping off line his Platoon Commander and Sergeant became casualties. Curley then took charge of the Platoon and in a most gallant and capable manner led it to its objective. He ably superintended the consolidation and soon after, when subjected to intense shell fire, he set a most cheerful and inspiring example to the men under his command.'
Unfortunately, it appears that the award recommendation was unsuccessful.
A Leader on the Rugby Field.
Edward Curley also showed strong leadership on the sporting field, he captained the 13th Battalion Rugby Union team for three years. During this time the team was undefeated. The team won the 4th Infantry Brigade Rugby Championship ‘Silver Cup’ in July 1918, defeating the 15th Battalion Team for the trophy.
Mr. Curley’s name has been inscribed on the Merewether (Mitchell Park) Memorial Gates, The Junction Soldiers' Memorial, Cooks Hill Lifesaving and Surf Club Memorial (photos, unveiled on the 8th June 1918, 6 names originally inscribed of the Fallen, 9 names now inscribed, located at Memorial Drive, Bar Beach, New South Wales), Newcastle South Public School Roll of Honour, St. Mary's-Marist Bros' School (Newcastle) Honour Roll (as N. CURLEY).
There is no memorial inscription on the gravesite plaque of Teddie’s parents to tell us of the loss of their son during The Great War, and I cannot erect a Memorial cross, so I have placed poppies in remembrance of his supreme sacrifice for God, King & Country. CATHOLIC 2-57. 34.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered “
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/cemetery-main-search/
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
Lest We Forget.
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