Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Italian theatre’ O.B.E. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph ‘Bob’ Curling, Royal Artillery

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarked London 1919; 1914 Star (Capt. J. Curling. R.H.A.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. J. Curling.); Italy, Kingdom, War Cross, mounted court-style as worn together with Italian silver Altipiani medal, extremely fine (6) £500-£600

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919: ‘For valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations in Italy.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 5 June 1919 (Italy, Earl of Cavan’s despatch of 18 January 1919)

Italian War Cross London Gazette 20 May 1919.

Joseph Curling was born on 26 August 1880, in Newfoundland, Canada, and was educated at Eton College in 1895-98. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Horse Artillery on 6 January 1900, becoming Lieutenant on 3 April 1901, and Captain on 4 April 1908. He served in South Africa from December 1905 to September 1907, and then in Ceylon as A.D.C. to the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Brevet Colonel Sir H. E. McCullum, Bart., G.C.M.G., until January 1909. He returned once more to South Africa from October 1909 to November 1911, and then in India until March 1913. He went to France with the B.E.F. on 16 August 1914 and was promoted to Major on 30 October 1914. His war services are best given in his Senior Officers’ School Confidential Report of March 1921 which states:

‘August 1914 to January 1915 - Captain of “J” Battery R.H.A. With Chetwode’s Independent Cavalry Brigade. Fighting at Mons and throughout the retreat. Cavalry action at Cerizy. The advance to the Aisne including the fighting on the Marne. Attached 4th Cavalry Brigade. Fighting on the Chemin des Dames. Belgium: the advance to the Lys. Withdrawal from the Lys at Warmeton. Fighting round Wytschaet and Messines. Attached 4th Divisional Artillery. Beginning of Trench Warfare in the Messines Sector.
February 1915 to May 1915 - IXth Division, trained A/52nd Brigade.
May 1915 to April 1916 - Attached 3C Reserve Brigade for training Officers.
May 1915 - Appointed Chief Gunnery Instructor No. 2 R.F.A. Cadet School.
October 1916 - Reorganised No. 2 R.F.A. Cadet School and appointed 2nd-in-Command.
April 1917 - Appointed Commandant No. 2 R.F.A. Cadet School.
September 1917 to France to command A Battery 96th Army Brigade in XIVth Corps - Polkem Ridge; Lange march.
Gassed in November.
December 1917 to Italy - Posted to 35th How[itzer] Battery - Trench Warfare on MONTELLO and ASSIAGO.
April 1918 - Posted to command 103rd Brigade 23rd Division in ASIAGO. Austrian attack in June 1918. Piave Offensive in October 1918.’

After the War he was Superintendent Remount Service Depot, 2-16 June 1919, and Assistant Commandant Remount Service Depot,17 June 1919 to 14 February 1920. He retired in 1920 and was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel (retired pay) on 19 December 1925, with seniority 26 April 1920. He became sales manager for Messrs. Munn and Underwood, the Southampton motor-car dealers, and in April 1936 joined the firm of Messrs. Percy Hendy, Ltd. Lieutenant-Colonel Curling died of pneumonia in January 1937.

Sold with a good number of original photographs, both of the recipient in uniform and of other family members; original warrants for the O.B.E. and Italian War Cros; M.I.D. Certificate; S.O.S. confidential report quoted above; several original letters home from Pretoria 1907 and on active service in Italy in 1918; Last Will and Testament and other family documents, including photographs of and relating to his son, Lieutenant-Colonel J. R. M. Curling, R.A., who won the Military Cross and three mentions in Italy in 1944-45; together with additional copied research and Medal Index Card.