CUREL, John

John CUREL was the second son of Emily Bragg and Henry Edward Curel,  and stepson of Arthur Bragg (see entry). Like his brother Archibald Charles Curel, he had been born at Cloncurry, North Queensland. In 1914, He was a 22 year old and single,  a miner by occupation,  5' 9" tall, with blue eyes and brown hair. At the time of his enlistment on 31 December 1914, his address was given as C/- Mrs Bragg, Beaconsfield, Gippsland, Victoria. However, with her two sons and husband away at war, Emily and her 11 year old daughter, Florence, moved into 100 Powlett Street, East Melbourne, probably a rooming house. 

Emily Bragg's husband, Arthur, fought in France. He was first reported missing on 19 July, 1916 and on 21 August 1917 was recorded as having been killed in action. His body was never found and she never received any of his personal effects.  Her son, Archy, died at Passchendaele, killed in action on 11 October 1917. He was buried close by, then later re-interred at Tyne Cot British Cemetery, five and a half miles North-East of Ypres, Plot 33.

John joined the 11th Light Horse Regiment in Queensland on 2 January 1915.  He was placed in B Squadron and embarked on the 2 June 1915 from Brisbane on HMAT Borda A30, landing in Egypt. He served at Gallipoli and came out unscathed, his Squadron having been attached to the 5th Light Horse while on the Peninsula. After the Gallipoli retreat, he served out the war in Egypt, serving in 1916 in the Sinai Desert at Romani, Magdheba and Rafa; in November, 1916 at the Battle of Sherla; in 1917 in Palestine, 1918 in Jordan.

John Curel received a gunshot wound in his right arm on 19 April 1917 at the Second Battle of Gaza. He remained in the 11 Light Horse for the duration, serving in the 1st Camel Battalion attached to the 11th Light Horse. 

He was finally discharged from further service in 1919, returning to Australia on board HT Morvada on 13 July, 1919. After the war, he lived at Teralba, NSW, near Newcastle. Sadly, he and his mother lost contact after the war, but they were later re-united and lived together at 6 Louis Street, Hihgate Hill, Brisbane.

John Curel has no personal connection with East Melbourne, but his mother spent her war years there, waiting for news of her three men, which seldom came. John was a particular worry: she had only one letter from him and that one said he had not heard from her, although she wrote every week. She feared he might be lonely and think she did not care and perhaps this is the reason why he did not come back to her immediately after the war.