Albert Edward Curtis VC

Name: Albert Edward Curtis

Conflict: Second Boer War

Gazetted: January 15, 1901

Service: Army

Curtis Albert edward
Albert Edward Curtis VC
Curtis Albert edward Medals
Medal group

Place/date of birth: Guildford, Surrey/January 6, 1866

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Private (later Sergeant)

Date of bravery: February 23, 1900

London Gazette citation:

2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Private (now Corporal) A.E. Curtis.

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.

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Other decorations: N/A

Place/date of death: Barnet, Hertfordshire/March 18, 1940

Grave/memorials: Bells Hill Cemetery, Chipping Barnet, Hertfordshire; All Saints Church, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased at auction, Spink, London, 1999

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum