The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (NX24011) Private Frank Charles Curtis, 2/2nd Battalion, AIF, Second World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Meredith Duncan, the story for this day was on (NX24011) Private Frank Charles Curtis, 2/2nd Battalion, AIF, Second World War.

NX24011 Private Frank Charles Curtis, 2/2nd Battalion, AIF
KIA 6 September 1943
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 19 December 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Frank Charles Curtis, killed on active service with the Second Australian Imperial Force in 1943.

The son of Wilfred and Mabel Curtis of Potts Point, New South Wales, Frank Charles Curtis was born in Melbourne on 27 April 1918.

A textile worker before the outbreak of the Second World War, Curtis enlisted in the Second AIF on 3 June 1940. He embarked for overseas service that October, and after completing training was posted to the 2/2nd Battalion, 6th Division. Curtis was not an exemplary soldier, and was disciplined more than once for being absent without leave.

In March 1941 Curtis joined his battalion in Greece. During the Greek campaign the 2/2nd Battalion saw action against the invading German forces. There Curtis was wounded, shot through the arm by a revolver when disarming a group of suspected fifth columnists. His wound was not serious, though he was evacuated by ambulance.

The Greek campaign was a disaster for the British and Commonwealth forces, which were forced to evacuate by the end of April. Although the circumstances of his capture are unknown, Curtis became one of over 2,000 Australians to become prisoners of war in the campaign.

The Germans transported Curtis, among others, to Stalag XXA at Thorn, or Torun in modern-day Poland. In September 1943 Curtis was part of an Arbeitskommando, or work party, when the incident occurred that led to his death.

A report by the Swiss Legation in Berlin found that Curtis had absented himself from his place of work without permission and was found by German sentries one-and-a-half kilometres away in a ditch, “embracing a Polish woman”. Curtis was ordered by the sentries to accompany them, and he complied, but slowly. When told to hurry up he abused the sentry and then attacked him. A scuffle broke out, and when another guard intervened he was struck in the head by Curtis. In a described act of self-defence the first sentry then raised his rifle and shot Curtis. With a gunshot wound to the head he was taken to hospital but died the next day. No British prisoners witnessed the incident.

Frank Curtis was buried in Malbork Commonwealth War Cemetery in Poland. He was 25 years old.

Curtis’ name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, along with the names of some 40,000 Australians killed in war.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Frank Charles Curtis, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.

Lachlan Grant
Historian, Military History Section

Sources:
http://www.naa.gov.au