* Second Lieutenant Norman Frank Currall

“The company of which your son was in went forward with magnificent dash…he was gallant soldier, who has won the respect of all his brother officers and the regard of the men in his platoon.” '





Second Lieutenant Norman Frank Currall of the 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment. He was killed in action on 18 October 1916 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. You can see him here with his men at Hawthorn Ridge - he is the man center-frame to the right, just removing a soft hat.
Norman Frank was born in Leamington Priors, St Mary's, Warwickshire, England; the eldest child and only son of Percy Frank and Kate Currall. He was a pupil at The High School Dublin from 1909 to 1913, where he gave his address as 2 Windsor Road, Rathmines.

Here is a detailed description of this image from the Imperial War Museum: 'Staff Sergeant (pointing to his right) of the 16th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (29th Division) with a group of troops of the 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, parading at the "White City" opposite Hawthorn Ridge for the attack on Beaumont Hamel. Behind them is a party from the 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders of the 4th Division. Note white cloth carriers "C" letter badges on arms of two soldiers from that group.

The officer in the middle left (with his back to camera, removing his cap) is Second Lieutenant Norman Frank Currall of the 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment. He was killed in action on 18 October 1916 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Label Original caption reads: Soldiers of the 16th (Public Schools) Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment of the 29th Division parading at 'White City' opposite Hawthorn Ridge for the attack on Beaumont Hamel. Behind them is a group from the 2nd Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders of 4th
Division.'
Source of data and photo: Imperial War Museum

The Weekly Irish Times. Ireland’s Roll of Honour. November 17, 1917. Second Lieutenant N. F. Currall, East Lancashire Regiment, who was reported missing on October 18th last year, and is now officially presumed to have been killed in action on that date, was the only son of Mr Percy F Currall, formerly District Manager Post Office Telephones, Dublin, and at present Ditrict Manager, Post Office Telephones, Brighton. Second Lieutenant Currall was a student at the Royal College of Science, and a member of the Trinity College, O.T.C. He received his commission in the East Lancashires in 1915, and went to the front in the summer of last year. His Colonel, in a letter to Lieutenant Currall’s parents, says;-“Your son was an extremely capable officer, and one who had made himself most popular amongst his comrades.” The chaplain writes;-“The company of which your son was in went forward with magnificent dash…he was gallant soldier, who has won the respect of all his brother officers and the regard of the men in his platoon.” Pier and Face 16 C Thiepval Memorial.
Source: Tom Burnell