Author Topic: Searching For John Curtin, Irish Guards  (Read 1916 times)

Offline rdpaul

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Searching For John Curtin, Irish Guards
« on: Wednesday 19 September 18 22:01 BST (UK) »
Hi All,

I've recently come across a sad family story, which has encouraged me to find out more. My Grandad's brother, John Curtin, Irish Guards was killed in WW1, possibly at the Somme. His Mother, my Great Grandmother, tried to trace him after the war...but never did locate him. She even wrote to the Australian Prime Minister at the time for help, because he had the same name as John!

Tried doing the usual searches but didn't come up with anything which ties him up to his birthplace etc. If anyone has access to Irish Guard casualties list, your help would be greatly appreciated.

He was born in Leeds, UK, Jan or Feb 1893. Father- James Curtin, Mother- Mary Curtin

Would be nice to settle this family mystery, for the sake of my grieving Gt Grandma.

Offline philipsearching

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Re: Searching For John Curtin, Irish Guards
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 19 September 18 23:00 BST (UK) »
Commonwealth War Graves Commission has (nothing for Irish Guards):
CURTIN John, Cpl 7472 Leinster Regt d 4/9/18 age 33.  Parents Gunner Peter & Elizabeth of Cork, wife Hannah of 13 Horgons Bldgs Cork.
CURTIN J L/Cpl 30077 Royal Irish Fusiliers, died 30/9/18 age 45.  Son of Edmond Curtin of Cloheen, Buttevant, Cork.
CURTIN J Cpl 6682 Royal Munster Fusiliers MM.  Died 4/10/18 age 24.  Son of Timothy & Mary Curtin of Knockulcare, Mt Collins, Abbeyfeale, Limerick.
CURTIN John, Pte 7787 Royal Dublin Fusiliers, died 24/5/15 age 29.  Son of John & Mary Curtin of 7 Bunkers Hill, St Mary's Rd, Cork.

plus a Canadian and some Australian - but they seem to be James, or not connected to Leeds..

Philip

CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find/find-war-dead
CANADIAN - http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/Pages/introduction.aspx
AUSTRALIAN - https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SessionTimeout.aspx
Please help me to help you by citing sources for information.

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Offline Jomot

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Re: Searching For John Curtin, Irish Guards
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 19 September 18 23:32 BST (UK) »
The absent voters lists for Leeds does not have a John Curtin listed, only James (sometimes shown as James Jr) who served in the Royal Field Artillery.
MORGAN: Glamorgan, Durham, Ohio. DAVIS/DAVIES/DAVID: Glamorgan, Ohio.  GIBSON: Leicestershire, Durham, North Yorkshire.  RAIN/RAINE: Cumberland.  TAYLOR: North Yorks. BOURDAS: North Yorks. JEFFREYS: Worcestershire & Northumberland. FORBES: Berwickshire, CHEESMOND: Durham/Northumberland. WINTER: Durham/Northumberland. SNOWBALL: Durham.

Offline rdpaul

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Re: Searching For John Curtin, Irish Guards
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 20 September 18 10:18 BST (UK) »
Thanks Phillip.
I'll just keep searching. Is it possible soldiers were killed in World War 1 without any record? If so, I can only imagine how his mother must have suffered, trying to find out his fate.

Thanks Jomot.
I have John on the 1911 Census, in Leeds...but after that, he disappears. If he was killed before 1918, maybe he wouldn't have appeared on the Absent Voters List. Am I right in saying, the list was only from 1918 onwards? By the way, James, of the RFA, would have been my Grandad, the last of the siblings. He survived the war...and the Second World War too.


Online heywood

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Re: Searching For John Curtin, Irish Guards
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 20 September 18 10:37 BST (UK) »
Hello,

I can’t find John, or the family in 1911 to check anything  :-\

There is a reference to J F Curtin Q.M.S Royal Munster Fusiliers
30 Meanwood Street, Camp Road Leeds

It is in the National Roll of the Great War and states that after being wounded, he was taken prisoner in 1918 and demobilised in 1919.

Heywood
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Offline rdpaul

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Re: Searching For John Curtin, Irish Guards
« Reply #5 on: Thursday 20 September 18 11:14 BST (UK) »
Hi Heywood,

I will look into the J.F. Curtin you mentioned. I saw that before but didn't pursue it as it mentions he was demobilised 1919. When in fact, we were told he was killed in action. The address doesn't match, but it's quite close to where the family lived, so I will check again.

Regarding the 1911 Census, please find attached.

Thanks

Paul

Online mckha489

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Re: Searching For John Curtin, Irish Guards
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 20 September 18 11:27 BST (UK) »
Hello,

I can’t find John, or the family in 1911 to check anything  :-\

There is a reference to J F Curtin Q.M.S Royal Munster Fusiliers
30 Meanwood Street, Camp Road Leeds

It is in the National Roll of the Great War and states that after being wounded, he was taken prisoner in 1918 and demobilised in 1919.

Heywood

I don't think this is your man.  Here is one of POW entries from https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/List/2603948/698/41762/



Online mckha489

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Re: Searching For John Curtin, Irish Guards
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 20 September 18 11:32 BST (UK) »
BTW  James was a POW too.  He has the Stanhope Terrace address

Offline jim1

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Re: Searching For John Curtin, Irish Guards
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 20 September 18 11:37 BST (UK) »
There was a John Curtin Irish Guards no. 10538 1st. Battalion. He appears to have survived. It may be he died shortly after WW1 & the story has got a bit distorted.
Edit: Found a record for him. Back shortly.
Not him.
Warks:Ashford;Cadby;Clarke;Clifford;Cooke Copage;Easthope;
Edmonds;Felton;Colledge;Lutwyche;Mander(s);May;Poole;Withers.
Staffs.Edmonds;Addison;Duffield;Webb;Fisher;Archer
Salop:Easthope,Eddowes,Hoorde,Oteley,Vernon,Talbot,De Neville.
Notts.Clarke;Redfearne;Treece.
Som.May;Perriman;Cox
India Kane;Felton;Cadby
London.Haysom.
Lancs.Gay.
Worcs.Coley;Mander;Sawyer.
Kings of Wessex & Scotland
Census information is Crown copyright,from
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/