Earle Curd (1892-19??)

Post date: Feb 23, 2016 4:22:33 PM

Earle Francis Curd was born on 29 January 1892 in Wateringbury. He was the son of George and Harriett who lived on Old Road, Pizenwell and the younger brother of Albert who also served in the navy. Altogether Harriett had 13 children all of whom were still living in 1911.

Earle attended Wateringbury School and the following incident is recorded about him in 1906.

March 8^th: Mr. Hurley, father of one of the Girls School children called to see me this morning with reference to a letter his daughter had received from Earle Curd (one of the boys of this school). I had already had this matter brought to my notice & had spoken to Curd only the day before when he stated that he had sent no such letter for a fortnight. The letter to Mr. Hurley’s girl was written only 2 days ago & therefore the boy has not told the truth. This boy & his brother James have I am afraid a very bad influence in the school. At one time Earle Curd was chosen school captain but owing to bad behaviour he had to be dismissed that position. In regard to above a letter has been sent to Curd’s parents from the Headmaster; & Earle Curd has been caned for the falsehood told yesterday.

However he does not seem to have held any resentment against the school as he was a paid up (1 shilling p.a.) member of the Wateringbury Old Boys Society in 1919.

Earle Curd joined the navy a year after his brother Albert, in February 1911 on a 12 year engagement which was subsequently extended to 1928. He was 5ft. 5 inches tall with a 37 inch chest, light brown hair, grey/blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He had a tattoo on his forearm. on his re-engagement he seems to have shrunk an inch but added 4 inches to his chest measurement.

After a number of ships he served from March 1915 to August 1917 as an assistant steward in H.M.S. Prince Edward, an old packet steamer requisitioned for the war by the navy and which acted as an anti-submarine vessel in the Gallipoli campaign. After Prince Edward he served on "Europa II", not a ship but the naval term for those assigned to work ashore at Stavros Bay, Greece until April 1919.

In May 1919 he married Winifred Ivy Wallis at the parish church of St. Barnabas, Devonport.

In February 1922 Earle is listed as a passenger, travelling from Plymouth by himself to Australia and described as a "RA Navy" on the Euripedes (Aberdeen Line). As his naval record continues until 1928 this is strange but possibly the navy was sending him to join a new ship there.