Geoffry Cursham

Geoffry was born in 1897 the eldest son of William and Mabel Augusta Cockayne (May) Cursham (nee Naylor). His father William Cursham was born in Wilford, Nottingham, in 1862 and was an insurance broker and later manager of an insurance company.William and Mabel were married in 1894 and had five children of whom only four, survived infancy: Geoffry, Raymond b.1889, Miles and Anthony b. 1907.In 1901 he and his wife Mabel (30) were living on Village Street, Thrumpton, with their three sons, Geoffry (4), Raymond (2) and Miles (1 month). Also in the household was a cook, nurse and housemaid.They were living at the Manor House, Thrumpton in 1911 and only their youngest son, Anthony (47) was at home on the night of the census. It is probable that the three older boys were away at boarding school.Mabel died on 11 June 1917 and William married Phyllis Dorothy Emily James (b. 1892) in 1923. They moved to South Brent, Devonshire, where William died on 23 August 1939. His widow died in 1976 aged 84. Geoffry's brothers, Raymond and Miles, served in the Royal Navy and in 1940 held the ranks of lieutenant commander and commander respectively. Geoffry's cousin, Francis George Cursham, served in the 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters and was killed in an accident at Aldershot on 31 October 1918. (See 'Extra information')