Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
Arthur James Curl was born on 18th February 1897 in Dorking, Surrey to labourer and gardener Walter and Emily Hilton. He was baptised on 18th April 1897 at St Martin’s Church, Dorking. The family lived in North Street.
Arthur’s father Walter was born in the 1st quarter of 1861 in Tidcombe, Wiltshire to farm bailiff William, born about 1823 in Compton Bassett, Wiltshire and Ann, born about 1830 in Birdbush, Wiltshire. His mother Emily was born in the 4th quarter of 1867 in Brockham to gardener Henry, born about 1834 in Brockham, and Caroline, born about 1843 in Abinger. Walter and Emily married in the 1st quarter of 1888 in Dorking.
Arthur had five known siblings: Emily C born about 1889; Walter William born at 1893; Herbert R. born about 1901 and Edith Dorothy born about 1903, all in Dorking. Then, Margaret born about 1891 in Brockham.
On 29th May 1899, Arthur was admitted into St Martin’s Church of England School, Dorking for infants. At the time of his admission the family lived in North Street, Dorking. He left on 30th March 1904.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at 20 North Street. Walter was working as a gardener and Emily was at home. The household further comprised of their children: Emily, Margaret, Walter, Arthur and Herbert, plus a boarder, general labourer, George James.
On 11th April 1904, Arthur was admitted into St Martin’s Church of England School for Boys. At the time of his admission the family lived in North Street. He left the school on 2nd August 1905.
Arthur’s father Walter died in the 2nd quarter of 1906 in Dorking. At the time of the 1911 Census, the widowed Emily Curl was an inmate at the Dorking Union Workhouse, 2 Horsham Road. She died in June 1917 in Dorking.
At the time of the 1911 Census, Arthur was an inmate at an Orphanage in Edgworth, Lancashire.
Arthur enlisted on 7th November 1914 in Bolton into the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He was a Private with regimental number 17637. At the time of his enlistment he resided at 37 Bolton Road, Edgeworth, Bolton and was working as a crofter. He had a scar on the middle of his chin, a birthmark below his left forearm, a fresh complexion, blue grey eyes and brown hair. He was a Methodist.
He joined his unit at Preston on 8th November 1914. Arthur was discharged due to being considered unlikely to become an efficient soldier under PARA 392 (III) on 15th November 1914 in Preston. Arthur re-enlisted on 17th August 1915 in Bolton into the 4/5th Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment for duration of the war. He was a Private with regimental numbers 5946 and 242830. At the time of his re-enlistment he lived at 308 Blackburn Road, Bolton.
At the time of his death he was part of the 1/4th Battalion, the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.
Arthur served from 18th August 1917 to 12th February 1917 in Bolton, from 13th February 1917 to 9th January 1918 in France, from 10th January 1918 to 9th July 1918 he was at home, presumably to recover from shell wounds and from being gassed on 1st January 1918, and from 10th July 1917 until his death Arthur James served in France.
Arthur was killed in an action on 1st October 1918 in France.
He is buried at the Fouquieres Churchyard Extension in France. His grave registration number is IV.J.1.
His sister Edith Dorothy Curl received £7, 4s and 11d on 30th January 1919 and a further £14 on 21st January 1920 in Soldier’s Effects
She also received his personal effects. After the war she lived at Cockshot Farm, Holmbury St Mary, Coldharbour.
| Born | Dorking, Surrey |
| Son of | Emily and Walter Curl of 2 Horsham Road, Dorking |
| Brother of | Emily Longhurst, Rowmount, Coldharbour |
| Regiment | 1st/4th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment |
| Number | 242830 |
| Date of Death | 1st October 1918 |
| Place of Death | France |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action |
| Age | 21 |
| Cemetery | Fouquieres Churchyard Extension, Pas de Calais |
