In Briefing Room No. 5, we once again join Stuart Curry as he travels – through the area where the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge, 4-5 October, 1917 and the Battle of Passchendaele, 9-12 October, 1917 took place – under the guidance of Johan Wanderwalle.
Briefing Room No. 3 focussed on the Battle of Menin Road on 20-21 September 1917 and the Zonnebeke 5 and their re-interment in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood and Briefing Room No. 4 focussed on the Battle of Polygon Wood, 26-28 September, as part of the battles that Australians were involved in to drive the Germans off the Passchendaele – Messines Ridge.
Amongst the vast array of family information that Stuart was following up on his journey was a photo which had belonged to his great uncle, Henry Ernest Curry and was taken on 20 September 1917.
Gunner Henry Ernest Curry, No 3067 and his younger brother, Gunner Albert Alfred Curry (Stuart’s grandfather), were both in the 51st Battery of the 13th Field Artillery Brigade. Both were born at Granville in Sydney and Henry enlisted at Holsworthy on 27 August 1915 aged 23 years, 11 months while Albert enlisted on 15 November 1915 aged 18 years and 1 month. Originally a reinforcement in the 20th Battalion, Henry transferred to the 56th Battalion in Egypt and then to the 13th Field Artillery Battery in March 1916. Albert was originally a reinforcement in the 4th Battalion, then transferred to the 56th Battalion in Egypt and then to the 13th Field Artillery Battery in September 1916.
Photo: Nonne Bosschen Bunker 1917 [AWM EOO780]
This photo of a bunker in Nonne Bosschen led to an interesting discovery for Stuart. Here is his account of events:
I had a photo that belonged to my grandfather’s brother, Henry Ernest Curry, who had written on the back “This is the exact position.” Johan knew exactly where it was and said. “I will take you there right now if you like.”
When Johan had taken me to the northern edge of Glencorse Wood, I sensed that the Nonne Bosschen Bunker was hidden just in front of us in the middle of the forest. Johan pointed it out, but the paddock in front of us was recently ploughed and walking would be very hard going so we decided to go around the back of Nonne Bosschen.
We drove down a few back roads and then got out and walked down a dirt track. We then jumped over a barbed-wire fence and about fifty yards into the scrub and trees there it was. The bunker was still there after almost one hundred years, although almost submerged. Johan also said that farmers after the war blew many bunkers up to get the steel out of the roof which was worth quite a lot of money at the time and that all German pillboxes were made from Dutch concrete which they profiteered from during the war.
Photo: Stuart Curry sitting atop the bunker
This area [Map Reference: J.8.c.75.93] was as far forward as the Curry brothers could get their18-pounder guns in the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge (4-5 October, 1917) due to the conditions of the mud (hence the word “This is the exact position” on the back of the photo). After one month of fighting at this location the Australian 13th Field Artillery Brigade consisting of eight hundred men had casualties of: Killed 30 Wounded 133 Gassed 35
Photo: The location of the 51st Battery of 13th Field Artillery Brigade
Source: 14th Brigade Unit Diary September 1917 [AWM]
Available on-line here. http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/AWM4/23/AWM4-23-14-18.pdf
On the 7th of November 1917 just two days before they were about to get out of there Henry Ernest Curry was shot in the head and shoulder and was carried out by the Canadian Casualty Clearing Station. Gunner Curry rejoined the 13th Field Artillery Battery in March 1918 and after the armistice returned to Australia in July 1919 and was discharged in September.
Photo: Looking back at Westhoek Ridge
When I looked back at Westhoek Ridge from Nonne Bosschen, I imagined what it must have looked like for the Germans seeing thousands of Australian soldiers coming over that hill. This place was detested by the Australians because it was a favourite target for German artillery. Standing on top of the hill and on the forward slopes I can see why it was so dangerous and difficult to pass through.
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