Pte 22968 Sydney Curley

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Sydney Curley was born in Liverpool on 12th November 1892 the son of Charles Curley and his wife Alice (nee Barrow) who were married on the 27th November 1884 at St John’s, Liverpool. Charles was of 99 Stanley Rd, father Michael, whilst Alice was of 62 Lemon St, father Robert. Sydney was baptised Robert Sydney at St Alphonsus' R.C. Church on 27th November 1892.  

In the 1891 census the family were living at 99 Stanley Road, Kirkdale where Charles, aged 29, born in Liverpool, was the Licensee of the Stanley Hotel, Alice was aged 28, born in Ditton, Widnes. The couple had three young daughters, Florence aged 6, Blanche 5 and one year old Ada who very sadly died that same year. 

Charles died aged 32 on the 19th July 1894 while the family were living at the Ferry Hotel, Tobin Street, Egremont. 

Liverpool Mercury - Saturday 21 July 1894 

CURLEY- July 19, at the Ferry Hotel, Egremont, Charles Curley, the beloved husband of Alice Curley, fortified with the rites of the Holy Church. Interment at Wallasey Cemetery at nine a.m. to-morrow (Sunday). Cortege leaves 8.30 R.I.P. 

By the 1901 census the widowed Alice, aged 37, is living at 17 Upper Frederick Street, Liverpool with her children, Blanche aged 13, a drapers assistant, Charles 9 and Stanley 8. Alice is still in the Licensed Trade as a Public House Manageress. 

By 1911 Alice and family are living at 164 Upper Huskisson Street. Three of her children are living at home, Florence is working at a printing works, Charles is a pawnbroker and Sydney is a billiard marker. Also living in the same house is her daughter Blanche, her husband and their baby son.

Sydney’s brother Charles had emigrated to America and was serving in the US Army. His sister Blanche and her husband and family had also emigrated to Boston USA before 1914.

On 11th November 1914 Sydney enlisted in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 22968. He stated that he was aged 22 and employed as a clerk. He is described as being 5 feet six inches tall, weighing 124lbs with a 35" chest. His NOK was initially put as mother Alice, 178 Upper Huskisson St, later changed to his brother Charles at 77 Revere St, Boston, Mass. USA. 

Sydney embarked for France on 20th December 1915.  

His Service Record details:- 

29.12.15 - Arrived at 30 Inf. Base Depot. 

07.01.16 - Joined No.2 Entrenching Btn. 

04.03.16 - Joined 20th Btn KLR. 

16.03.16 - Admitted to 98 F.A. 

17.03.16 - Admitted with influenza to 92 F.A. 

24.03.16 - Discharged to unit from 22.F.A. 

30.07.16 - Missing 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 


He was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 23, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

30th July 1916

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.     

He was listed missing in the Liverpool Daily Post on 14th September 1916 as Curley, S.D    

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01^st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Soldiers Effects, outstanding pay, and War Gratuity of £7 10s to sister Florence Thomas, 284 Brown St, pension of 10/- p.w. to mother Alice. 

His mother died of cancer, aged 54, on 29th July 1917 and was buried on the 2nd August at Yew Tree Cemetery. 

His sister Blanche died on 31st January 1918. As such his sister, Florence, was sent his service medals under the written proviso by the War Office that: 
“the medals by law are the property of her brother Charles Curley and she should surrender them should he appear to claim them”. 

Sydney is commemorated on the Roll of Honour in the Hall of Remembrance at Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 9 left.

We currently have no further information on Sydney Curley. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Grateful thanks are extended to Joe Unsworth for permission to use the photograph of Sydney.