Albert Edward Curtis

Albert Edward Curtis
File:Albert Curtis VC.jpg
Born	(1866-01-06)6 January 1866 Guildford, Surrey
Died	Barnet, London
Buried	Bells Hill Cemetery, Barnet
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Sergeant
Commands held	The East Surrey Regiment
Battles/wars	Second Boer War
Awards	Victoria Cross
Other work	Yeoman Warder

Albert Edward Curtis VC (6 January 1866 – 18 March 1940) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Curtis was 34 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment, British Army during the Second Boer War when the following deed took place at Onderbank Spruit for which he was awarded the VC:

On the 23rd February, 1900, Colonel Harris lay all day long in a perfectly open space under close fire of a Boer breastwork. The Boers fired all day at any man who moved, and Colonel Harris was wounded eight or nine times. Private Curtis, after several attempts succeeded in reaching the Colonel, bound his wounded arm, and gave him his flask — all under heavy fire. He then tried to carry him away, but was unable, on which he called for assistance, and Private Morton came out at once. Fearing that the men would be killed; Colonel Harris told them to leave him, but they declined, and after trying to carry the Colonel on their rifles, they made a chair with their hands, and so carried him out of fire.

Further information

He later achieved the rank of sergeant and served as a Yeoman Warder. He died on 18 March 1940. His medal is in the Lord Ashcroft collection

References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• Victoria Crosses of the Anglo-Boer War (Ian Uys, 2000)

External links

• News Item (headstone erected over a previously unmarked grave)
• Find-A-Grave profile for Albert Edward Curtis

• The London Gazette: no. 27266. p. 308. 15 January 1901. Retrieved 8 November 2009.