AllegianceUnited Kingdom NameAlbert Curtis AwardsVictoria Cross Other workYeoman Warder Service/branchBritish Army
Battles/warsSecond Boer War Battles and warsSecond Boer War RankSergeant RoleArmed force officer
Born6 January 1866
Guildford, Surrey (1866-01-06) Buried atBells Hill Cemetery, Barnet Commands heldThe East Surrey Regiment DiedMarch 18, 1940, Chipping Barnet, London Borough of Barnet, United Kingdom Place of burialBell's Hill Burial Ground, London Borough of Barnet, United Kingdom, Chipping Barnet, London Borough of Barnet, United Kingdom Similar PeopleGeorge Grogan, Robert Henry Cain, Raphael Zengel, Walter Norris Congreve, James Carne
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.
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
Curtis is interred at Bells Hill Burial Ground, Chipping Barnet.