Private 23961 Fred Currah of the 10th Battalion, Border Regiment was born the third quarter of 1892 at Dufton, Westmorland the son of Robert and Isabella Currah.

The 1901 census records him with his family at Red Banks, Dufton, the parish in which one and all were born. Robert, aged 61, was a game watcher. Isabella was aged 46. Children recorded are Thomas, aged 21, a “farm servant (general)”, Annie, aged 17, domestic work, Isaac, aged 15, a draper’s assistant, Fred, aged 8 and Walter, aged 6. His army record would additionally include Sarah, Elizabeth John, and Walter as his siblings.

For the 1911 census he was one of four servants at Gale House, Appleby. The home of farmer Tom Winter and his wife Mary.

Fred attested at Appleby on the 22nd of January 1916 and was posted to the Army Reserve pending mobilization, which occurred on the 29th of February when he was posted to the Border Regiment and the following day was posted to the Regimental Depot, followed by a posting to the 10th Battalion on the 3rd of March, which was stationed at Seaford.

Fred’s medical report at South Camp, Seaford alluded to his “Poor physique and distinct mental weakness”, adding that neither were the result of active service and so it was decided to discharge him from the army as unfit for further service.

Unable to cope, and before he could be discharged, Fred committed suicide by cutting his throat on the 31st of March, 1916. His body was removed to an empty hut and the coroner called.

His report, COR/1/3/288, dated the 3rd of April, notes that Fred, Private in the 10th (Reserve) Battalion, Border Regiment, South Camp, Seaford., 23; states that Fred had been “…recommended for discharge as mentally deficient, was found with his throat cut”; (and the verdict given was) “suicide during temporary insanity”.

The insensitive stigma of suicide was clearly attached to Fred’s death, as evidenced by the letter from the Officer in charge of infantry which refused his family even an expression of sympathy. Dated 29th of April, 1916, the memo/letter stated that “With reference to your memorandum of the 6th instant, relating to No. 23961 Private F.Currah, 10th Battalion, The Border Regiment, who committed suicide whilst temporarily insane at Chyngton Camp, Seaford, on 31st March 1916, please note that Their Majesties’ message of sympathy should not be sent in this case”