Corporal Cursley was born in Sawley on 31st July 1879.  He lived in Long Eaton and married Gertrude Adams on 15th December 1900.  In the 1901 census he was listed as a lace maker.  They had 4 children before the start of the Great War, Clarice, Cissie, Sydney and Percy.  He enlisted on 22nd October 1914 and served with the 5th Battalion and had earlier numbers of 2961 and 200784.  He served in the Great War, landing in France on 25th June 1915. He was discharged on 25th August 1919. 

Harry was unfortunately widowed and then he re-attested into the 5th Territorial Battalion on 12th May 1920 at the age of 33 years and 10 months and gave his occupation as Lace Hand.  In the 1921 census he was living with his mother, stepfather and his 4 children.  He was finally discharged on 11th May 1925.  In the 1939 register he was working as a caretaker at the Scala cinema, Long Eaton.