“Topper” Curran was born on 17 November 1894, going by his military records. Church baptism records (rootsireland.ie) indicate he was baptized on April 22, 1895. His parents are listed as Henry Curran and Elizabeth Grogan.
Early Years
RoseAnn was Topper’s older sister, born a year before him on October 31, 1893. Their parents Henry (a butcher) and Eliza/Lizzie were living at 40 Kilmorey St., Newry at the time of her birth, a terraced house near the river/canal. Family lore has it that John’s father was a drunkard who later simply dropped his children off in High Street, with John going to the Grogans, and his sister taken in by the nuns. This may have been after his mum, Lizzie, died in 1898.
His dad, Henry, married Cathleen Poland in September 1902, and had more children, Topper’s half-siblings: Theresa (b.1903), Cathleen (b.1907), and Winefred (b.1909). The 1911 Census shows that Henry was living in the same house as his in-laws the Polands at 15, Peter’s Place, occupying 2 of the 5 rooms in the small terraced house, with 6 family members listed.
The same 1911 Census of Ireland shows John living with his uncle John Grogan, his wife Mary and four cousins at 14, High Street, Newry. This census entry also shows that age 16 John was working at a flax mill as a doffer. This may perhaps have been Dromalane Mill, which was not far from the centre of Newry, although there were many area mills in operation at that time.
Military Service
Topper first served as a private (3rd class, #6465) in the 4th Royal Irish Rifles, going to Belfast to join the Special Reserve (4th Battalion, B Company) at age 17 in January 1912. He was 5’2″(or 7?) and 97lbs, with blue eyes and dark brown hair.
He had just turned 18 on December 17th 1912, when he transferred to the 3rd Royal Dublin Fusileers as Private (3rd Class) #11437. It looks like he was in Gravesend when he signed up. His Discharge Paper shows his home address as Peter’s Place, Newry and next of kin Henry (father) and Rose (sister).
War broke out seven months later, in summer 1914. His Medal Roll record shows he was discharged from the Fusileers in Cork after a year and a half, on 23 April 1915 as “no longer physically fit for war service”. Although it’s hard to read the original text, it looks like he had some sort of inoperable inflammation of the right inner ear. The report mentions Gravesend and Chatham Hospital, so he was stationed in Kent from August to September, 1914.
So, he is permanently invalided out in April 1915. His intended address on his Discharge paper is 3, Windmill Road (off Church St.), Newry. However, the 1923 Medal Record indicates that Topper then served in the Royal Irish (private #7371) Labour Corps (private #546325?), and received the Victory and British War medals, and the 1914-15 Star – medals awarded to all men who served. Interestingly, this record also notes his service as ‘Theatre of War first served in: 2B’ (Gallipoli) and ‘date of entry therein 24/9/2015’. So, it looks like he left the Fusileers in late April 1915, went back to Newry and got married the next week, and then joined (or was drafted?) to the Royal Irish Labour Corps and maybe got sent to Gallipoli?
The Royal Irish in Gallipoli – as part of 10th Irish Division (the 6th and 7th Battalions of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers). They trained at the Curragh during the autumn and winter of 1914. It was then moved to England prior to departure for Gallipoli to take part in the August offensive. The 10th (Irish) Division would stay at Gallipoli for less than two months but would see some intense fighting at the Suvla Bay section.
[from: gallipoli.rte.ie/guides/the-irish-regiments-at-gallipoli/]
[insert gallery of military files]
Family Life
He married Alice Tumilty on May 1, 1915, when he was 20 and she 22. Their first son, Robert John, (my grandfather) was born in the autumn of 1916, apparently in Liverpool. Their other sons were Daniel (1922-1980) & Henry (d.1994).
By 1922 they were living at 73, High St. Newry (per Dan’s birth certificate). In 1926 Topper joined the Transport and General Workers Union, and worked as a dock worker on the Newry Canal through the 1950s.
Alice died in 1948. He passed away 22 years later, on 10th March, 1970, in Daisy Hill hospital. His death certificate gives his occupation as General Laborer, and at the time of his death he was living at 61 High St., Newry. and is buried in St. Mary’s Catholic Churchyard, Newry.
A Curran History 