Pte 35374 Francis Joseph Curtis

 

It is not known when his father died or how many children they had. Five children are found on census records. James and Jane were born in County Meath, and Annie, Thomas, and Francis were born in County Dublin.

Balbriggan, on the coast 32 km north of Dublin, was the location of the 19th century Smith's Stocking Mill, which made stockings as well as men's "Long-Johns" called Balbriggans. These are often mentioned in John Wayne films– 'he put his balbriggans on' – and both Queen Victoria and the Czarina of Russia also wore "Balbriggans".  Balbriggan's strong textile connections also include the linen & cotton manufacturing of Charles Gallen & Company, who in 1870, purchased the existing weaving mill and associated facilities built by Baron Hamilton. The firm became famous as the finest linen weavers in Ireland and had custom all over the world. 

 

In 1901 his widowed mother Julia is head of household at House 13, Quay Street, Dublin. James, 25, Jane, 22, Annie, 18, and Thomas, 16, are all stocking makers.  Francis is 12, at school.  They have a boarder, Patrick Mohan, 42, a baker, from Meath.  The family is Roman Catholic.

 

In 1911 a Frank Curtis, age 23, born Balbriggan, is a baker boarding in the household of Thomas and Mary Catherine Deane, at 29 Ballsbridge Terrace, Pembroke West, Dublin.

By the time he enlisted he had moved to Bootle and he enlisted in the town under the name Frank. He served in the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 35374. All military records show Frank, except Soldiers’ Effects, which shows his full Christian names.  Based on the amount of the War Gratuity, Frank served for under a year.  It is not known when he shipped to France, but the battalion took part in the fighting at the Somme from July 1916, including the costly Battle of the Transloy Ridges in October.  At the end of October the Pals battalions moved north of the Somme to take over a section of the line opposite Bienvillers. 

On 4th December the battalion entered front line trenches at Berles and were relieved on the 10th, when they marched to billets at Humbercamps.  The battalion War Diary for the day simply records, “1 O.R. Killed, 3 O.R. Wounded”.

 

The O.R. killed on 10th December 1916 was Pte. Frank Curtis. He was 26 years of age and he now rests at Berles au Bois Churchyard Extension at  J.1 where his headstone bears the epitaph:

 

The village remained in British hands from the summer of 1915, when it was taken over from French troops, until the end of the War. It suffered at times from severe shelling, which caused the destruction of the original church. However, its replacement was erected 400 metres distant from the original site, leaving the churchyard seperated from the church. The village was 'adopted' after the war by the County of Wolverhampton. Berles-au-Bois Churchyard Extension was begun by French troops, whose graves are in the South corner. It was continued by the 46th North Midland and other Divisions from September 1915, until January 1917, when it was closed. There are now 144 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-18 war, 2 of which are unidentified in this site. Of these, one grave destroyed by shell fire, is represented by a special memorial. The British burials were in many instances made in groups by Brigades. There are also 44 French and 1 German burials of the 1914-1918 war and 8 German burials of the 1939-1945 war here. The Extension covers an area of 1,066 square metres and is enclosed by brick walls.
Frank’s Army effects went to his sister Jane, as well as a War Gratuity of £3.  A pension card has not been found.

 

Frank is commemorated on Ireland’s National Roll of Honour. 

 

We currently have no further information on Francis (Frank) Joseph Curtis. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.