Richard Haddon CURTIS

Richard Haddon CURTIS Update Details

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CURTIS, Richard Haddon

Service Number:	2997
Enlisted:	2 April 1915, Liverpool, NSW
Last Rank:	Second Lieutenant
Last Unit:	No. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps
Born:	Glen Innes, New South Wales, Australia, 1894
Home Town:	Glen Innes, Glen Innes Severn, New South Wales
Schooling:	Glenn Innes Public School, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation:	Grazier
Died:	Killed In Action, France, 6 January 1918
Cemetery:	Sailly-Labourse Communal Cemetery Extension Row E, Grave 7
Memorials:	Glen Innes & District Soldiers Memorial, Wellingrove Public School Roll of Honor

World War 1 Service

2 Apr 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2997, 5th Field Ambulance, Liverpool, NSW
2 Apr 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2997, 5th Field Ambulance, Place of enlistment - Liverpool, New South Wales
31 May 1915:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2997, 5th Field Ambulance, Embarked on HMAT 'A31' Ajana from Sydney on 31st May 1915.
2 Jan 1917:	Transferred AIF WW1, Driver, 1st Division Supply Column , Whilst transferred, still attached to 5th Field Ambulance
5 May 1917:	Transferred Driver, Australian Flying Corps (AFC)
15 Jun 1917:	Transferred Driver, No. 6 Training Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, 6 Squadron AFC was formed at Parkhouse on 15 June 1917. It was originally identified as 30 (Australian Training) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, but was renamed, along with all of the Australian squadrons, in January 1918.
2 Oct 1917:	Promoted Second Lieutenant, No. 6 Training Squadron, Australian Flying Corps
15 Dec 1917:	Embarked Second Lieutenant, 2997, No. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, Proceeded to France by air.
15 Dec 1917:	Transferred Second Lieutenant, No. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps
6 Jan 1918:	Involvement Second Lieutenant, 2997, No. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: Australian Flying Corps awm_rank: Second Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1918-01-06

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Biography contributed by Daryl Jones

Son of Richard and Susan Curtis of Glen Innes

Brother of

2754 Lance Corporal James Raymond Curtis - 1st Infantry Battalion, returned to Australia 7th March 1919 (born 1890) and
1387 Corporal Joseph Lindsay Curtis - 7th Light Horse Regiment, returned to Australia 6th May 1919 (born 1892) and
other siblings Frances HB (born 1889), Florence R (born 1895), Bessie RV (born 1897) and Norman L (born 1899)

Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Richard Haddon Curtis was killed when flying a Sopwith Camel no. B4623 as part of a five aeroplane flight of 71 Squadron AFC on a familiarisation mission on the Allied side of the Lines. At about 3000 feet over Vermelles the two rearmost machines, flown by Curtis and Second Lieutenant A.M. Anderson, collided, and then fell on a third Sopwith Camel piloted by 2nd Lieutenant James Norman Cash. All three Camels then fell on a slag heap between Béthune and Vermelles, killing all three airmen.

The three young pilots are buried side by side in Row E of Sailly-Labourse Communal Cemetery France in Graves 5, 6 and 7.

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