Curedale, Alfred

817 Private Alfred Curedale - 51st Battalion AIF

Alfred Curedale was born in Fremantle in January 1897 to George and Elizabeth Curedale. He was one of fourteen children born into the family.

He grew up in the local area, the family living at 249 Hampton Road Fremantle and Alfred was also educated in Fremantle.

After leaving school he found employment locally as a labourer.

On the 14th January 1916 Alfred enlisted into the AIF. He was found to be fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 Feet 4 inches;

Weight - 122lbs;

Chest Measurement - 33-35 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Brown.

After his successful enlistment, Alfred was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 44th Battalion at Claremont Showgrounds Camp. He trained with this group for the next few months until the battalion embarkation orders came through. On the 6th June 1916 the 44th Battalion boarded the transport ship HMAT Suevic in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for England, reaching Plymouth on July 21st 1916.

The 44th Battalion trained on the Salisbury Plains for the next few months. However due to the large number of casualties in the Australian units in France, volunteers were called for amongst the 44th Battalion to leave their unit and reinforce one of the units already in France.

Alfred volunteered and he was sent to France where he joined the 51st Battalion AIF on the 17th November 1916. He served with this unit on the Somme front through the 1916/17 French winter.

On the 2nd April 1917 Alfred was wounded at Noreuil France, being hit in the thigh and right forearm. He was evacuated to hospital in France and then England, where he was admitted to Kitchener Military Hospital. He remained in hospital from the 7th April 1917 to 17th August 1917. Alfred was then transferred to No.3 Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford England.

Alfred then spent the next several months in different camps in England while he regained his fitness. During this time he was also given periods of leave where he could travel around the United Kingdom. It seems that this was when he met his future wife.

On the 22nd July 1918 Alfred married Nellie Cole at Brighton. They would have a short period together but as Alfred was nearing his fitness to return to the Western Front, he had to soon return to base. 

On the 6th September 1918 Alfred rejoined the 51st Battalion. The unit was then in the midst of following up the attacks on the retreating Germans. Peronne had just been captured and the 51st Battalion were in action for the next few weeks. On the 18th September 1918 the 51st Battalion fought their last action of the war at Le Veguier. Alfred came through this action unscathed, and the 51st Battalion were then pulled out of the line for a well deserved rest period.

Alfred would spend the next eight months in France and Belgium, as after the Armistice was announced the 51st Battalion went to what had been part of German occupied Belgium. Alfred only returned to England on the 7th April 1919.

Upon his return to England he waited for a berth on a troopship home, but not only had he two organise a passage to Australia for his wife he also had a new son Alfred born in April 1919.

In June 1919 Alfred boarded the transport ship Kongin Louise and set sail for Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 3rd August 1919.

After arriving back home, Alfred actually took up residence with his new family at 26 Curedale Street Beaconsfield. After back home they had two more children, Louisa in 1921 and Ernest in 1928.

In the 1930's the family moved to 220 South Street South Fremantle.

Alfred Curedale died on the 2nd September 1986 in Fremantle WA