Albert Edward Curtis

Carried a Wounded Colonel to Safety Under Close Fire

Albert Edward Curtis was born in Guildford, Surrey, on 6 January 1866. He served with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders before transferring to the East Surrey Regiment. During the Second Boer War, he was a private in the 2nd Battalion, serving in the British advance to relieve Ladysmith.

On 23 February 1900, at Onderbank Spruit in Natal, his commanding officer, Colonel Harris, lay wounded in the open within close range of a Boer breastwork. Fire struck anyone who moved, and Harris was hit eight or nine times during the day. Curtis repeatedly tried to reach him before finally succeeding. Under fire, he bandaged the colonel's wounded arm and gave him a drink from his flask.

Curtis could not carry Harris away alone, so he called for assistance. Private Morton immediately came forward. Harris urged both soldiers to leave him rather than risk their lives, but they refused. After trying to support him on their rifles, they formed a seat with their hands and carried him out of the firing line. Curtis received the Victoria Cross; Morton received the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

The Duke of York presented Curtis with his Victoria Cross at Pietermaritzburg on 14 August 1901. He later reached the rank of sergeant. After leaving the Army, he became a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London on 30 May 1910, serving until November 1931. He died on 18 March 1940 and is buried with his wife, Annie, at Bells Hill, Chipping Barnet. Their previously unmarked grave received a new headstone in a rededication ceremony on 23 February 2000, exactly a century after his rescue of Harris.

Victoria Cross citation, as reproduced by the regimental association

“On 23rd day of 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 of their hands and so carried him out of fire”.