Following the article on the Curling Family of Chilton in Issue 33 of the CommunityAd Magazine, the Town Sergeant, Mac, was in touch to say that a “loving cup” was presented to the Ramsgate Borough Council in 1902 by a William Curling. William was the younger brother of Henry Thomas Curling.
Their father, Henry Curling Senior followed a medical career and was a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. In those days it was customary for the first-born son to follow in his father’s footsteps, but Henry decided to make the army his career and, after attending Marlborough College, became an officer in the Royal Artillery. It was William, the second son, who became a surgeon. Mac researched the story and discovered that William had presented the cup to Ramsgate before moving to Brighton, in gratitude for the happy life he had lived here. He had it inscribed: “The Gift of William Curling to the Borough of Ramsgate, 1902”.
It was the story of Henry that Mac researched next and an interesting book was brought to his attention, containing the letters Henry wrote home to his mother in Ramsgate*.
Serving in the Zulu War in South Africa, Henry gave a vivid portrayal of the battles fought, in particular the Battle of Isandlwana on January 22, 1879. He was the only officer in the front line to survive. He was only a lieutenant at the time, but by the time he retired in 1902, he was a full Colonel. The book tells us that “A lifelong bachelor, he lived out the rest of his life at the family home – Chylton Lodge, Ramsgate” which, the book tells us, was named after the nearby village of Chilton from where the Curling family originated. Chylton Lodge was part of an attractive development on the cliff top designed and built by Edward Pugin.
Furthermore, the Isle of Thanet Gazette on Friday August 9, 2002 published an article about the restoration of Henry Curling’s grave in Ramsgate cemetery. It was restored by the Royal Artillery Association and they wondered about his association with the town.
In retirement, Henry followed his father and brother William by becoming a Justice of the Peace. He died at Chylton Lodge aged 63. After a service at the Holy Trinity Church, he was buried at the Ramsgate Cemetery alongside his parents.
* The Curling Letters of the Zulu War edited by Adrian Greaves and Brian Best.