| Regimental number | 494 |
| Place of birth | Maitland, New South Wales |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Address | c/o Miss Maggie Kitching, Oxford Hotel, Maryborough, Queensland |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 30 |
| Height | 5' 9" |
| Weight | 174 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Kate Curran, Coonamble, Dubbo, New South Wales |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 31st Battalion, B Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/48/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on |
| Two ships left from Melbourne carrying the 31st Battalion Headquarters and Companies A, B, C and D: HMAT A62, 'Wandilla', on 9 November 1915 and HMAT A41, 'Bakara', on 5 November 1915. It is not possible from the Embarkation Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked. | |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A41 Bakara on |
| Two ships left from Melbourne carrying the 31st Battalion Headquarters and Companies A, B, C and D: HMAT A62, 'Wandilla', on 9 November 1915 and HMAT A41, 'Bakara', on 5 November 1915. It is not possible from the Embarkation Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked. | |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 31st Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fromelles, France |
| Age at death | 30 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 3), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 118 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Shown as Joseph James CURRAN |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Melbourne, 9 November 1915; disembarked Suez, ex-HMAT A62 'Wandilla', 7 December 1915. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916. Reported missing, 19 July 1916. Now reported killed in action after receiving identity disc from A.O.K.6, Germany. Handwritten note on bottom of B.103 notes, 'buried at Fleurbaix, Sh.36 NW H.21.d'. German report confirming Pte Curran's details 24 October 1919, 'Australian Soldier Jos. James Curran, 31st Btn. fell in the neighbourhood of Fromelles on 19/7/16.' Note on Red Cross File No 860407: 'Disc recd. from Germany and forwarded to N/K 24/1.17.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Miscellaneous details | NOK: subsequently unknown from 1916. (It appears that Mrs Curran was never officially notified of her son's death because she could not be traced) |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, CURRAN James Joseph
Red Cross file 860407 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
