Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born October 1888 in Armadale, Victoria

Father Alexander Edward Curwen (d. 6/8/1917) and Mother Elizabeth Catherine Curwen (d. 1897)
father last lived at Terminus Hotel, Packenham Street, Fremantle, Western Australia

Siblings (as next of kin)
Sister    Miss Elizabeth Ogilvey Curwen
            - lived c/o Milton Livingstone Davey, 101 Swanston St, Melbourne, VIC
Brother  Hugh Philip Curwen
            - (1921) lived at 26 Northcote Road, Armadale, VIC
            - (1924) lived at 5 Eric St, Hawthorn, VIC
Cousin   Florence Curwen

Next of kin in service:   (Brother)
254   Private Frederick Edward Curwen - 28th Battalion
        21/09/1915   died of wounds received in action, Gallipoli, ANZAC
        His name is commemorated on  Lone Pine (Special Memorial A. 6), Gallipoli, Turkey

John was described on enlisting as 28 years 5 months of age; single; 5' 6 1/4" tall;
117 lbs; fresh complexion; blue eyes; light brown hair; Church of England

18/03/1916    enlisted in Melbourne, VIC

08/09/1916    appointed to 20th reinforcements, 7th Battalion, Castlemaine Camp

11/09/1916    embarked Port of Melbourne, VIC onboard HMAT A14 Euripides
                     as a Private with 7th Infantry Battalion, 20th reinforcements

26/10/1916    disembarked into Plymouth, England

30/10/1916    marched in to 2nd Training Battalion, Perham Downs, England

17/12/1916    proceeded overseas to France onboard SS Golden Eagle
18/12/1916    marched in to 1st Division Base Depot, Etaples, France

23/12/1916    marched out to unit, Etaples, France
24/12/1916    taken on strength 7th Infantry Battalion, from reinforcements

28/02/1917    sick (diarrhoea) to hospital, France
27/03/1917    discharged to duty, rejoined unit, France

John had been a "runner" for HQ's Signallers, 7th Battalion.

He was hit by shell shrapnel and was taken back to a First Aid Point near the front line
were he died of his wounds, at Menin Road, Belgium.

04/10/1917     died of wounds received in action, Menin Road, Ypres, Belgium

1/02/1918       stated by 2715 Lance Corporal M Molloy 7th Australian I.F. B Coy, HQ
                      "I saw Pte Curwen (A runner on Bn. HQ for the Signallers, formerly B
                       Company), after he was wounded on Oc. 4th during an attach at Ypres.
                       He was lying on a stretcher beside me that afternoon, at the first dressing
                       station. He was very severely wounded, and I think ha had lost his arm.
                       He was beyong speaking to and I think he was dying then.  I saw him
                       being put away on one side, and I was taken away myself and heard
                       nothing more of him.  It was not our Battalion Dressing Station.  It was
                       only a First Aid, right up in our lines (where the advance had started
                       from at 6am.  All our objectives were gained and held."

06/05/1918     stated by 2839 Lance Corporal A R Ford - 7th Battalion, HQ's Signallers
                      "Curwen was Headquarters (HQ's) runner, and was killed the first time
                        in the line iwth them, by the barrage, as we were waiting to hop-over
                        at Anzac House.  'A' Company was detailed to bury all of those that
                        fell a couple of days later, on the field.  I went into the line with him
                        but did not see him killed, in fact was knocked myslf, but the boys
                        in the section saw him and told me."

He had no known grave

His name is commemorated on:-
                  - Panel 7 of The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium
                  - Panel 49 of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.

Medals:        British War medal (47336), Victory medal (46784)
                   Memorial Plaque and Scroll (336470)

Submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  19/01/2017.  Lest we forget.