Thomas William Curry

1st Bn Thomas Curry had previously served in the Imperial Yeomanry for five years, resigning in 1900. In 1914, he attested at Melton Mowbray 28/8/1914 standing 5' 9" and weighing 170 lbs. He joined the Royal Army Service Corps and was stationed at Aldershot for three months. He served in France as a butcher with the ASC from June 1915 until late 1916. He then trained with the Royal Garrison Artillery before finally transferring to 1st Bn The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). He died of wounds.

13/10/1915 he was awarded 7 days Field Punishment No1 for absenting himself from work between 3 and 5.30pm on 7/10/1915. 23/10/1915 he was given 21 days FP No1 for 'Whilst on active service conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline vis by writing insubordinate language about an officer.' In 1916 he was twice deprived of four days' pay for being absent from a roll call and causing a disturbance in a tent [ASR]. Field Punishment was introduced in 1881 following the abolition of flogging, and was a common punishment during World War I. A commanding officer could award field punishment for up to 28 days, while a court martial could award it for up to 90 days. Field Punishment Number One, often abbreviated to ‘F.P. No. 1’ or even just ‘No. 1’, consisted of the convicted man being placed in fetters and handcuffs or similar restraints and attached to a fixed object, such as a gun wheel or a fence post, for up to two hours per day. During the early part of World War I, the punishment was often applied with the arms stretched out and the legs tied together, giving rise to the nickname ‘crucifixion’. This was applied for up to three days out of four, up to 21 days total. It was usually applied in field punishment camps set up for this purpose a few miles behind the front line, but when the unit was on the move it would be carried out by the unit itself. It has been alleged that this punishment was sometimes applied within range of enemy fire. During World War I Field Punishment Number One was issued by the British Army on 60210 occasions. Field Punishment Number One was eventually abolished in 1923, when an amendment to the Army Act which specifically forbade attachment to a fixed object was passed by the House of Lords. (Wikipedia) Personal effects returned to Curry's family were knife, purse, tidy bag, compass, pipe, mirror, metal mirror, 2 metal clips, cigarette case, 2 discs, coin, chain, wallet [ASR]. Noeux Les Mines Communal Cemetery Extension Gave Reference: II A 8