Curlewis, Arthur Grenville

No.1006 – Corporal Arthur Grenville Curlewis – 12^th Battalion AIF

Arthur Grenville Curlewis was born in Queenscliffe Victoria on the 14^th September 1892 to George and Lilla Curlewis. He was one of four brothers, Gordon, George and Selwyn being the others. The family moved across to Western Australia while the boys were still young. The family initially lived at Geraldton where Gordon and Selwyn were educated, though the family soon moved to Mary Street Fremantle where Arthur, George and Selwyn attended Fremantle Boys School. While at school Arthur also took part in the Fremantle Boys School Cadets.

After leaving school he took up work for Dalgety’s and then joined his brothers and parents in Brookton to try farming. On the 17^th September 1914 Arthur enlisted into the AIF and after being given a medical examination was passed as fit. The medical officer found him to be 5 feet 7 ½ inches in height; weight of 144 lbs; chest measurement of 34 inches; fair complexion; grey eyes and reddish hair. His religious denomination was Presbyterian. Arthur was assigned to “H” Company of the 12^th Battalion AIF with the regimental No.1006. George, Gordon and Selwyn Curlewis also enlisted around this time but they were all assigned to the 16^th Battalion AIF. The WA Companies of the 12^th Battalion trained in WA until the end of October 1914 as on the 2^nd November 1914 they embarked from Fremantle aboard the H.M.A.T. “Medic”.

They travelled to Egypt where they disembarked and joined up with the Tasmanian and South Australian Companies of the 12^th Battalion. After arrival the 8 company system was changed to 4 Companies with the result that the two WA Companies, “G” and “H” were joined up to form the new “D” Company. The 12^th Battalion trained in Egypt until March 1915 when they were directed to head for Alexandria. After arriving in the port they boarded ships that took them to Lemnos Island off the coast of Turkey. For the next few weeks they lived on board the transport ships and each day went on shore for training purposes to prepare for their role in the forthcoming landing on the Turkish Coast.

In April they were joined by other Australian units as well as British, Indian, New Zealand and French troops. The 12^th Battalion as part of the 3^rd Australian Brigade was to make the initial landing on April 25^th 1915. While the 9^th, 10^th and 11^th Battalion were allocated sectors of landing, the 12^th Battalion would be split up to support the other battalions. Arthur, as part of “D” Company would land in support of the 11^th Battalion in the vicinity of North Beach.

Arthur survived the landing unscathed and escaped being killed or wounded. After the first week when the 12^th Battalion was reformed on the beach, they were sent to the south of the battlefield where they would see out the majority of the campaign. Arthur was in this vicinity when his brothers Selwyn and Gordon were killed with the 16^th Battalion at the northern end of the battlefield. Arthur survived through May, June and July. On the 12^th July 1915 he was promoted to Corporal.

During the August offensive at Gallipoli, the 1^st Australian Brigade captured trenches at Lone Pine. The fighting was ferocious and casualties were heavy. The 12^th Battalion was brought in to reinforce the New South Welshmen of the 1^st Brigade. During this battle on the 7^th August, Arthur was wounded in the face and through the back with the bullet or bomb fragment going through his lung. He was evacuated back to the hospital ship and sent to hospital in Alexandria. Admitted to No.21 General Hospital Arthur died of wounds on the 15^th August 1915.

Arthur was buried at Chatby Military Cemetery in plot Q.524. His brother George would be the only one of four brothers to return home and he had been wounded three times on Gallipoli.