Horace Augustus Curtis VC
Name: Horace Augustus Curtis
Conflict: First World War
Gazetted: January 6, 1919
Service: Army
Horace Augustus Curtis VC
Medal group
Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Sergeant
Place/date of birth: St Anthony-in-Roseland, Cornwall/March 7, 1891
Date of bravery: October 18, 1918
London Gazette citation:
No. 14107 Sjt. Horace Augustus Curtis, 2nd Bn., R. Dub. Fus. (Newlyn East, Cornwall).
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty East of Le Cateau on the morning of 18th October, 1918, when in attack his platoon came unexpectedly under intense machine-gun fire. Realising that the attack would fail unless the enemy guns were silenced, Sjt. Curtis, without hesitation, rushed forward through our own barrage and the enemy fire, and killed and wounded the teams of two of the guns, whereupon the remaining four guns surrendered. Then, turning his attention to a train-load of reinforcements, he succeeded in capturing over 100 enemy before his comrades joined him.
His valour and disregard of danger inspired all.
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Other decorations: N/A
Place/date of death: Redruth, Cornwall/July 11, 1968
Grave/memorials: Penmount Crematorium, Truro, Cornwall
Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased at auction, Glendining’s, London, 1992
Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum