Pte 204609 Henry Curran

George Henry Curran was the son of Irish immigrants, Henry Curran and his wife Maria (nee Walsh) from Kilkenny, they must have married in Ireland as there is no UK civil record. Henry was born on 12th May 1880 and was baptised on 19th May 1880 at St Augustine's R.C. Church, Liverpool. His mother died in the June quarter of 1883, aged 37.

The 1891 Census finds Henry aged 11 and a scholar, living with his widowed father Henry, a 38 year old dock labourer born in Ireland, at 37 Dennison Street, Liverpool. 

He married Margaret Riley on 09th July 1900 at St Peter's Church, Seel Street, Liverpool. Now the site of the Alma De Cuba Restaurant.

He had 6 children with Margaret, three of whom sadly died in infancy.

William Henry Curran B.1900 died aged just 7 days

Mary Agnes (May) Curran B 1901 died 1920 aged 19

Edward Curran B.1904 died 1904 aged 10 months

Henry Curran B.1907  died 1970

Margaret Teresa Curran B. 1910 died 1912 aged 2 years

Thomas Gerard Curran B1912 died 1998

Henry's father, also named Henry Curran died on 14/04/1912 aged 63 years. The cause of death being a Cerebral Haemorrhage, Henry was with his father as he passed.

The 1901 Census shows that Henry and Margaret ran a Boarding House at 25 Earle Street, located close to the former Liverpool Stadium.

The 1911 Census shows the family were now living at 26 Denison Street, Liverpool with their 3 surviving children Mary Agnes, Henry and Thomas. Denison Street ran between Great Howard Street and Princes Dock. Henry was by now employed as a Carter.

Prior to the war Henry was employed by White Star and also Furness and Withy shipping lines.

Henry was serving with the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 204609.

At the time of his death on 8th November 1918, warfare had become mobile, with the British Army harrying the Germans, who would retreat to a position, fight, then retreat once more. The day before he was killed the Battalion had just marched from Mariollers to Marbaix in France, when it was ordered to take a position in the line near Marbaix, from the 1/5th Gloucestershire Regiment. On the following day, 8th November an attack was commenced at 07.30am supported by the 100th Battalion Machine Gun Corps and artillery fire. Despite their support, the advancing troops encountered fierce rifle and machine gun fire from the German position’s. Although the attack was eventually successful, two more officers and thirty six other ranks were to be wounded, and fourteen other ranks Killed, only three days before the Armistice.

Henry was one of the fourteen men referred to as killed in action.

He now rests at Pont sur Sambre Communal Cemetery.

Pont-sur-Sambre was in German hands for much of the First World War but was finally taken by the 1st D.C.L.I. on 5 November 1918. The communal cemetery contains 54 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, one of which is unidentified.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 09th December 1918;

CURRAN - November 8, killed in action, HENRY CURRAN, 18th the King's (Liverpool Regiment), the dearly beloved husband of Margaret Curran. (On whose soul, sweet Jesus, have mercy R.I.P.) - Deeply mourned by his Wife and three Children, May, Henry and Tom, 39 Denison Street.

Also in the Liverpool Echo 11th December 1918;

Private Henry Curran, 18th K.L.R., aged 37 years, who served in Salonica, and later in France, was killed in action on November 8. Prior to joining the forces he was employed for many years with William Johnston and Co., and Messr's Furness, Withy and Co. He leaves a wife and three children at 39 Denison Street. 

When Henry was killed in action  just 3 days before the Armistice he left behind his wife and 3 children. Sadly May, his only surviving daughter was to die in 1920.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to widow Margaret and children Henry and Thomas Gerard. 

His widow Margaret later married Peter Golding she died in 1953 still living in Denison Street.

Grateful thanks are extended to Toni Westhead for the family details of Henry which add greatly to our understanding of both Henry's life and the effect his death so close to the end of the war would have on his family.