Cpl 17115 James Curran

• Age: 25
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 8th May 1916
• Commemorated at: Carnoy Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: N.12

James Curran was born on the 09th October 1879 and was baptised 12th October 1879 at St Francis Xavier, Liverpool. His parents were Denis Curran and Mary Catherine (nee Lawler) and they were married 11th November 1878 at St Joseph’s R.C. Church, Liverpool. On the baptism records for James, Julia and Margaret,  Mother is down as Catherine.  Julia and Margaret were baptised at St Johns RC but no trace of baptism for Aloysious.

His mother, Mary. died on the 09th January 1891, aged 34. , and her husband, Denis, on the 01st December 1896, aged 55.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at 42 & 44 Walton Road, Kirkdale with their uncle Patrick Curran, the father Denis now a widower and the children James age 11, Julia age 9, Margaret age 7 and Aloysious Dennis age 1.

His father, Denis, died on the 01st December 1896, aged 55.

In the 1901 Census the children are still living with their uncle, Patrick Curran, born in Ireland in 1864 and said to be a furniture dealer, at 42 Walton Road. In 1911 the two girls live with Patrick, now said to be a Police Pensioner/Furniture Dealer, at the same address. There is no trace of James in the 1911 Census. 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

On 13^th February 1915, whilst at Knowsley, he was appointed a paid Lance Corporal, then promoted to full Corporal on the 01st November 1915. 

He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

He earned all three medals. 

He was serving in the 18th Battalion, King's Liverpool Regiment when he was killed in action on 08^th May 1916, aged 36.

He now rests at Carnoy Military Cemetery, Grave N 12, IN France. 

The cemetery was begun in August 1915, by the 2nd King's Own Scottish Borderers and the 2nd King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, when the village was immediately South of the British front line. It continued in use by troops holding this sector until July 1916, when Field Ambulances came up and a camp was established on the higher ground North of the village. It was closed in March 1917. From March to August 1918, it was in German hands, and German (and a few British) graves were made between the British graves and the entrance, and also in a German Cemetery alongside; but the German graves and the German Cemetery were removed in 1924.

There are now over 850, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, nearly 30 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 17 soldiers and one airman from the United Kingdom, known or believed to be buried among them.

The cemetery covers an area of 4,441 square metres and is enclosed by a red brick wall.

His Service Record includes a letter sent to the Records Office on 27^th January 1916 by a Miss I. K. Marr, Castle Mount, The Park, Nottingham which asks for information about James of the 4Coy, 18 Btn: 

“As his fiancée I am naturally anxious as I have not heard from him since 1^st January” - there is no copy of any reply. 

His death was reported in the Nottingham and Midland Catholic News on Saturday 20 May 1916: 

A POPULAR SOLDIER.

Official intimation has been received by his sister that Corporal James Curran, of the King's Liverpool Regiment, was killed in action on the 8th inst. He enlisted in August, 1914, and was sent to the front in November, 1915. The captain of his company, writing to Miss Curran, says:- "He was always the life and soul of the platoon, and, personally, I feel I have lost a good friend and the country has lost a good soldier who could always be relied upon to do his duty." He was 34 years of age, and prior to the war was employed as manager of a boot business and resided with his uncle and sisters at 42, Walton-road, Liverpool.

He earned all three medals. 

He is also commemorated on the family headstone at Ford Cemetery, Bootle. The Inscription reads:

"ALSO JAMES SON OF THE ABOVE (2nd PALS) KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE 8th MAY 1916"  

In December 1919, his sister, Julia, now married to Nicholas Tolan, but still living at 42 Walton Road, swears a declaration in which she states that their parents are both dead and that James’s only blood relatives are herself, her younger sister Margaret now Owens and their uncle Patrick, now 82 years old, and still living with Julia and Margaret at 42 Walton Road. Julia was married in 1917 and Margaret married John Owens in the last Quarter of 1916, although in 1917 she acknowledges receipt of her brother’s medals giving her maiden name.

We currently have no further information on James Curran. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.