Geburtsjahr: 1893

Geburtsort: Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia

Beruf: Viehtreiber

Land: Australia

Truppe: Australian Imperial Force

Rang: Driver

Dienstnummer: 3498

Einberufung datum: 28/09/1915

Einberufung ort: Holsworthy, New South Wales, Australia

Einheiten:  —  Australian Infantry, 45th Bn.  (Letzte bekannte Einheit)

Sterbedatum: 11/10/1917

Sterbeort: Defy Crossing, Zonnebeke, Belgien

Todesursache: Im Kampf gefallen

Alter: 24

British War Medal Medaille

Victory Medal Medaille

Archibald Charles Curel was born in 1893 in Cloncurry, Queensland. He was the son of Emily and Henry Edward Curel. According to his service record, Archibald worked as a drover prior to enlisting. He volunteered in Holsworthy, New South Wales, and by the Battle of Passchendaele he was serving as a driver with the Australian Infantry, 45th Battalion, part of the 12th Brigade, of the 4th Australian Division.

On 9 and 10 October 1917 Archibald’s left their camp for the frontlines, where they relieved parts of the Australian 5th Brigade. Battalion. The Battalion occupied positions along the ruined Ypres-Roulers railroad in anticipation of the attack on 12 October 1917. Companies were lying in wait at the hamlet of Nieuwemolen, Rhine Copse and Dairy Wood. Battalion Headquarters wear near Daring Crossing.

On 11 October 1917 the 45th Battalion was heavily shelled, while German snipers were very active along “B” Company’s front. “A” Company was withdrawn from it’s position, as it was being shelled by allied artillery.

Twenty-four year old Driver Archibald Charles Curel was one of the men who fell during the shelling on the 45th Battalion Australian Infantry. The young man was buried near Defy Crossing along the Ypres-Roulers Railroad. His remains were exhumed after the war and Archibald was interred in Tyne Cot Cemetery.

45th Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/62/20). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583 Verwendete Quellen

Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1727385 Verwendete Quellen

First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, CUREL A C). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/NameSearch.aspx Verwendete Quellen

McCarthy C., Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Uniform, 2018), pg. 127-128. Verwendete Quellen

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/462456

Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=228e298f-c306-499b-8756-4e26fab98bdd

Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7409157

The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=69817