Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Charles and Harriet Cursley of Hallaton, Leics. Charles was a Police Constable before enlistment. He was killed at Beaumont Hamel, France.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Born in Hallaton in the spring of 1890 to Charles Cursley, a gardener’s labourer and his wife Harriet née Wright, Charles attended Hallaton school but wanted more out of life than labouring. He decided on a career as a policeman and joined the Nottinghamshire County Constabulary but unfortunately we do not know the precise date. The census of 1911 states that at 16 High Pavement, Nottingham, the home of George Henry William Bailey, an Inspector of Police, lodged four young police constables, all in their early twenties. One of these young men was Charles Cursley. By 1915 the need for additional troops was becoming increasingly urgent. Charles would have had to receive permission from the Chief Constable to join the colours. On 10th June 1915 he was Attested, given his medical and allotted the service number 27191 joining 17th Battalion. He was a strapping fellow, 6 feet and ¾ inches tall. Although only a young man of 25, being a police constable had given Charles both experience in dealing with people in all sorts of situations as well as a clear idea of discipline. He also looked the part. He was soon promoted to the rank of sergeant. On 16th March 1916 the Battalion was sent to France. Journeys by train and marching took them towards the front line along the River Somme. In and out of the frontline and engaged in raiding and on working parties with the occasional respite in billets became the pattern. On 2nd September the Battalion moved into trenches near Thiepval preparatory to a big attack. At 05.10am on 3rd the Battalion moved forward behind a creeping barrage. The German first line was soon occupied but the second line was well defended with machine guns. Despite reinforcements being sent up, the attack was a failure and the order to withdraw was given. The losses were very high with 59 men killed; 155 wounded and 221 missing – 435 casualties out of a total who had attacked that morning of 20 officers and 650 other ranks. The battalion had been virtually wiped out. Among the missing was Charles Cursley. His body was never found. He is commemorated on Hallaton War Memorial, Thiepval Memorial to the missing and the Nottinghamshire Police Memorial .

Information supplied by Dennis Kenyon.