World War One Service
Veteran Record
Regimental number |
2300 |
Place of birth |
Ida Bay Tasmania |
Religion |
Church of England |
Occupation |
Labourer |
Address |
Southport, Tasmania |
Marital status |
Single |
Age at embarkation |
27 |
Next of kin |
Mother, Mrs A Curran, Southport, Tasmania |
Enlistment date |
22 June 1915 |
Rank on enlistment |
Private |
Unit name |
20th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement |
AWM Embarkation Roll number |
23/37/2 |
Embarkation details |
Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A8 Argyllshire on 30 September 1915 |
Rank from Nominal Roll |
Private |
Unit from Nominal Roll |
20th Battalion |
Fate |
Returned to Australia 6 March 1919 |
Source: Discovering ANZACS site at the National Archives of Australia: https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=69949
Link to First World War Nominal Roll: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2304618
Link to Discovering ANZACS site at the National Archives of Australia: Site has been decommissioned - Notification at: https://www.naa.gov.au/help-your-research/discovering-anzacs - however we note that a "innovative new digital experiences" site will be commissioned soon.
Link to The AIF Project - UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy: https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=69949
Link to Names Index at Libraries Tasmania: https://librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/names/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fNAME_INDEXES$002f0$002fNAME_INDEXES:938013/one?qu=DAVID&qu=JOSEPH&qu=CURRAN
ANZAC DAY DAWN SERVICE 2025 VETERAN DEDICTION:
Private David Joseph Curran - Service No. 2300
This Dawn Service is dedicated to David Joseph Curran.
David was born on March 30, 1889 at Ida Bay, the son of William and Amelia Ann Curran.
On enlistment David was 26yrs and 9 months, single and stated his occupation as a labourer.
David enlisted on June 22, 1915 at Liverpool, NSW, and was allocated to the 20th Battalion. On September 3, 1915 David’s unit embarked from Sydney on board the “Argyllshire.”
On May 5, 1916, the 20th Battalion were in the front line trenches at Bois Grenier, which were shelled for two and a half hours. The trenches were blown down and the men were buried, Curran and 3 others were taken prisoners as they could not get out of the trenches.
He was unofficially reported a Prisoner of war, May 1916.
July 1, 1916
From Fourig Office
POW in Germany
POW Camp - Bruderhaus, Coblenz
Captured in France at Bois Grenier on May 5, 1916
POW number—958
Wounded—Grenate splinters in left foot.
On August 2, 1916, David wrote a letter asking for parcels to be sent out:
Dear Sir,
I have been a prisoner of war, in Germany for 5 months now and I have received very few parcels, I was drawing two shillings per day in France. I wish to allot 10/- per week to Mr. K. O’Connor, Secretary Prisoner of War Depot to defray the cost of sending parcels out. I am Dear Sir Yours Respectfully.
Pte. D.J. Curran, 2300
20th Battalion, A.I.F.
David eventually received his food parcels on March 18, 1918. He wrote a letter:
“Prisoner of War” - Interned at Giessen:
“I am well and receive my food parcels alright, the acknowledgement cards having been delayed owing to my having to undergo punishment for attempting to escape.
The POW Camp at Giessen was a well-ordered camp with good sanitary conditions and clean water. It comprised of fifty huts, each of which held 200 men, and accommodations were described as “most satisfactory”.
Food, even in better camps like Giessen, was limited, and, as the war progressed supplies in Germany dwindled, already - meagre rations became even more scarce. Thanks to the regular arrival of food packages at the end of the war the POW’s often had access to better food than their guards. Giessen was also one of the camps from which prisoners could be sent out to work on farms as labourers.
On November 28, 1918 David a repatriated POW, embarked from Calais for the UK. He returned to Australia on March 6, 1919. David was discharged on June 21, 1919.
David and his family lived in Rattle Street, New Town, he joined the newly founded Lenah Valley RSL.
David passed away on December 23, 1958, aged 68 years.
For his invaluable service to Australia, the local community and the Lenah Valley RSL we heartily thank you.
Source: Adele McTye
25 April 2025
