Name
Percy Thomas Curwen
1875
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/09/1919
44
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
10087
Royal Fusiliers
5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SOUTH MIMMS (ST. GILES) CHURCHYARD
In South West part.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the South Mimms memorials, Not on the St Albans memorials
Pre War
Percy Thomas CURWEN was born in the early part of 1875, son of Charles Foster Curwen a Railway Clerk and Louisa Anne Curwen (nee Goldfinch). One of twelve children.
His parents married on 9th June 1862, at Saint John the Evangelist, Upper Holloway, London.
At the time of Percy’s birth, the family were living in Prospect Road, St Albans, Herts, moving to Stafford, Staffordshire, around 1877.
1881 Census records Percy as Thomas aged 6, at school, living with his parents, five sisters and four brothers, in Ingestre Road, Stafford, Staffordshire.
1891 Census, Percy aged 16 is working as a Railway Clerk, living with his parents, four sisters and brother Frederick (15) also a Railway Clerk at 4 Cramer Street, Stafford, Staffordshire.
No census record for 1901 & 1911, for Percy was found.
His father Charles died on 24th August 1904, in Stafford, Staffordshire.
We found an Anglo-Boar War Medal Record for 1899-1902, for a Gunner 333 P. T. Curwen of the Prince Alfred’s Cap Field Artillery, who was awarded the South Africa Medal with the Cape Coloney and Orange Free State Clasps, which could be our Percy Thomas Curwen, but we have not been able to positively confirm this, but it could why we could not find a 1901 & 1911 Census for Percy.
By 1911 his widowed mother Louisa, and four sisters, Anne (48) also a widow, Florence (38), Millicent (33) and Emeline Blanche (27), are now living at “Homelands” Cecil Road, Cheam, Surrey.
Percy was married to Mary, we believe she came from Limerick, Ireland, no other information was found for Mary or their marriage.
Wartime Service
Percy enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) on 28th November 1914, issued with the service number 10087.
He joined the 12th Battalion, in the field in October 1915. Returning home on 5th January 1916, joining the 5th Battalion a training Battalion, possible due to his health.
He was discharged under “Para 392 (xvi) KR sick” as no longer physically fit on 4th March 1919. He was issued the silver war badge No. B172025 on 10th May 1919. Later admitted to Clare Hale Sanatorium, South Mimms, Herts, where he died on 29th September 1919, of Pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB), aged 44. He was buried in St Giles Churchyard, South Mimms, Herts, on 3rd October 1919.
Additional Information
No Pension award, for Mary Curwen was found, Mary was awarded a grant of £5, on 27th January 1920.
1921 Census records Mary as a widow, and a Boarder with Arthur and Sarah Baker, at 65 Silver Crescent, Acton, Middx.
The CWGC and some other records record his Rank as a Sargent, His Medal Index Card (MIC) states Corporal then Sargent, but at the bottom of the MIC it states, “Correct Rank Corporal”.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
