Sergeant Albert Edward Curtis, VC

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2/the East Surrey Regiment

Woking, Surrey, England

c. 1901

For Conspicuous Gallantry

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No. 4675 Albert Edward Curtis was a 34-year-old private in the 2nd Battalion, the East Surrey Regiment, during the Anglo-Boer War when the following deed took place at Onderbank Spruit for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Curtis’ VC citation appeared in the 15 January 1901 edition of the London Gazette and reads as follows:

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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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Curtis would also be entitled to the Queen’s South Africa Medal with the clasps Orange Free State, Transvaal, Relief of Ladysmith, Tugela Heights, Laing’s Nek and Natal. He was additionally entitled to the King’s South Africa Medal with its South Africa – 1901 and South Africa – 1902 clasps.