Orders, Decorations and Medals

Six: Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant T. E. M. Curtis, 9th Lancers, killed in action at Longueval in September 1914

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Orange Free State (4166 Corpl: T. E. Curtis. 9th Lancers); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4166 Corpl: T. E. Curtis. 9th Lancers.); 1914 Star, with clasp (4166 Sq: Q.M. Sjt. T. E. M. Curtiss. 9/Lrs.) note spelling of surname as on index card; British War and Victory Medals (9L-4166 Sq. Q.M. Sjt. T. E. M. Curtis. 9-Lrs.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (4166 Sq. Q.M. Sjt: T. M. Curtis. 9/Lrs.) the first two with contact marks, nearly very fine, otherwise extremely fine (6) £360-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 9th and 12th Lancers.

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‘A Cranswick Soldier at Modder River. The following letter from Corporal T. Curtis (son of Mr John Curtis, retired Naval Petty Officer, residing at Cranswick) of the 9th Lancers, with Lord Methuen’s column at Modder River, throws an interesting light on the demands made upon our cavalry in South Africa: - “The General, Lord Methuen, in his brigade orders, says the battle of Modder River was one of the hardest fights in the annals of English history. Our losses have been cruel, and the work very hard. A day’s work is from 2 am until 8 or 10 o’clock at night, and we are the only cavalry regiment with the column. Both men and horses are fairly well done up. As for the ‘9th,’ I must say we have been the luckiest regiment under the sun, our casualties, one killed and several wounded. We have been in the thick of shot and shell and our horses are wounded in great numbers. My squadron was almost cut off at Honey Nest Kloof, and my horse was shot in the jaw. I possess the bullet as a curio.”

Driffield Times, October 17, 1914. ‘A Cranswick Man Killed. Sergt-Major Thos M. Curtis, of the 9th Lancers, is among the victims of the War, he, along with 17 of his comrades, being killed by the explosion of a German shell, which had travelled some miles. He was well known in Cranswick, being the son of a former resident, Josh Curtis, an ex-armourer in the Navy., now residing at Beverley. Sergt-Major Curtis married Miss Porritt, Tickton, and leaves a wife and one child. He had reached his last year of active service when going to the front. He and his comrades were buried in a Church graveyard near the place where they were killed.’

S.Q.M.S. Curtis and his 9th Lancer comrades were killed on 29 September 1914, by the shelling of their billets at Longueval, and are buried in Longueval Communal Cemetery. Sold with research and modern photograph of his headstone.