D.C.M. London Gazette 3.10.1918 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He went forward with two men and surprised and captured an enemy post of one Officer and six men in broad daylight. Later, he assumed command of his Platoon, and under very heavy barrage held an isolated position till relieved. His conduct throughout was splendid and inspired his men'.

M.M. London Gazette 28.9.1917.

Sergeant John Curran, D.C.M., M.M., appears to have had one or two 'run-ins' with the civil authorities during the course of the 1920s, sometimes under the pseudonym 'John Ryan'. Certainly he is known to have been arrested and committed to Liverpool Prison on 7.8.1920, a punishment that lasted until the following October and resulted in the forfeiture of his D.C.M. and M.M. In April 1922, however, a War Office report stated that both gallantry awards were to be restored to the recipient 'by the Army Council under Article 1240', but that his 'Commemorative War Medals' were to be forfeited under Article 1236 (b)'.

A Metropolitan Police report from Albany Street Station (dated 25.5.1927) reveals further misdemeanours:

'I beg to report that the above named ex-soldier, in the name of John Ryan, is awaiting sentence at County of London Sessions commencing 14 June 1927 on a charge of house-breaking. When arrested on 2 May 1927, the prisoner refused to give any particulars of himself. He now states that he served in the 17th Manchesters under Colonel MacDonald from 5 March 1916 till the end of the War, when he was discharged as a Sergeant. He also states that he was awarded the D.C.M. and M.M. and that his Army character was very good.'