Harry Reginald Curtis

In memoriam

Before he joined the Staff at Ellesmere College, Harry Reginald Curtis led a very active life at another Woodard School, St. Saviour’s, Ardingly, from 1910 to 1912. He played in their orchestra, took part in their drama productions and was active with the Officer Training Corps. In April 1911 he attended a course of instruction at Victoria Barracks, Portsmouth. His ‘Industry’, ‘General Ability and Intelligence’ and ‘Standard of Proficiency’ were all categorised at “Very Good”. He left Ardingly to take up an appointment as Second Master on board the White Star Cadet Training Ship ”Mersey”, but he only remained there for one year as he was in Ellesmere by September 1913. Harry was first mentioned as being at Ellesmere College in the London Gazette for 29th September 1913 when, as 2nd Lieutenant, he was appointed to serve with the Ellesmere College Contingent, Junior Division O.T.C. of which he became the Commanding Officer. His parents, Henry Levi and Mary Matilda lived at Barrowden, Stamford, Lincolnshire and he was born at Easton, Stamford on 28th January 1887. He had three brothers, Horace, Albert and William, and three sisters, Alice, Ada and Phyllis. Horace and Albert also lost their lives in the Great War. Harry taught Shorthand and Drawing at Ellesmere and, in the Kalendar for 1915, he is shown to have an Inter-Bachelor of Arts Degree from London University. His leadership of the Corps was praised in the Headmaster’s Speech of 1914 where it is recorded that: “The Corps, under the zealous and able leadership of Lieutenant Curtis, had reached a very high standard of efficiency and had received warm commendations at the recent inspections”. Harry was also praised for decorating the “big drum in a masterly manner”. He was heavily involved in the Debating Society, organised a boxing tournament and played in various hockey and football games.During his time at Ellesmere, Harry completed the three stages necessary to become a Freemason, his Mother Lodge being Brownlow No. 2131. The war interrupted his progression through the Lodge. Late in 1914, Harry left Ellesmere and took up a commission with the 12th Battalion, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers who were then stationed at Wrexham. He embarked for service overseas at Folkestone on 5th September 1915 and served in France until the end of October when he sailed from Marseilles to join The Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force in Salonika. He was wounded on 4th June 1916 and was treated at the 67th Field Ambulance, No. 31 Casualty Clearing Station and No. 29 General Hospital. Three weeks later he re-joined his unit. At the end of October, having served as an acting Major, he became temporary Major whilst second in command of a Company. July 1917 saw him attend a two week long course at XII Corps, School of Instruction. September saw him at 22 Division Gas School. In early 1918 he was granted a period of leave during which he returned to England. He returned to his unit at the end of March.Harry’s regiment in Salonika was fighting alongside the Greeks against the Bulgarians. In the early hours of 18th September 1918 both forces began a determined offensive against the enemy’s positions. Harry died in action that day. A detailed account of the operation is recorded in “Under the Devil’s Eye’. Several Ellesmerians who would have been familiar to Harry were, unbeknownst to him, involved in this and similar operations with their units in the immediate vicinity at the same time: “At 0508 hrs on 18 September 1918, the men of 66th and 67th Brigades along with those of the 'Seres' Division went over the top. The Greeks quickly overran the Bulgarian front line, capturing all positions between 0100 and 0500, including Petit Couronne. By 0700hrs they had secured Hill 340, Teton Hill and Doiran Hill in the Bulgarian second line. One regiment then pushed on to assault The Orb, a strongpoint in the enemy third line guarding the approach to Grand Couronne. Suffering heavy casualties and under pressure from Bulgarian counter attacks the Greeks were forced back to the line they had earlier consolidated. While the 'Seres' Division was making great progress, 67th Brigade on its right, attacked enemy positions between 0.6 and Sugar Loaf. The 11th Royal Welsh Fusiliers moved against 0.6, ‘B’ Coy reaching this point in 10 minutes having encountered little opposition. Once in occupation this Coy came under heavy fire and was strongly counter attacked. Although they continued to hold, casualties mounted and it was with relief that contact was established with troops of the 'Seres' Division at 0600hrs. By the time men of ‘D’ Coy had also reached 0.6, having suffered heavy casualties during their advance and in fighting off a counter attack. With the first objective secured, the battalion's two remaining companies advanced against a hilltop strongpoint in the enemy second line known as The Hilt. ‘A’ and ‘C’ Companys passed through the first belt of enemy wire according to the timetable and then had to adjust box respirators. In the assault on THE HILT very strong opposition was met so only a very few men under Major CURTIS were able to reach the objective. A very heavy machine gun and trench mortar fire was encountered from SQUIRREL WOOD and a counter attack forced the men who had occupied THE HILT trenches to withdraw. All the officers had become casualties". The War Diary for the 11th Battalion, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers records:” Major Curtis was one of the officers who became casualties. "A brother officer wrote:“An attack was planned on the whole of the Bulgar position. Our division, in co-operation with our Greek troops, was given the very difficult task of attacking the position known as the Grand Couronne and the ‘P’ Ridge, just west of Lake Dojran. This position in itself was an extremely strong one. In addition, the Bulgars had brought up very heavy reinforcements to this sector as they apparently expected a very strong attack here. Our Battalion was given two objectives. The capture of the foremost of these was entrusted to Major Curtis who had two companies under his command for this purpose. Very strong opposition was met; the enemy artillery, trench mortar, and machine gun fire was extremely heavy. The result was that although the objectives were reached, the casualties were so great that the first attacking force was unable to retain possession of the positions they had won by such heroic efforts. It was in this attack that Major Curtis was killed by a trench mortar shell. He had worked hard in getting out the details, and led his men to the attack in a most gallant manner and was a great example to them. The fact that we were keeping engaged heavy enemy forces made the attack on other parts of the line easier, with the result that the Serbs were able to push right through. The final result was that the position of the main Bulgarian Army was so serious that they had no option but to surrender, and there is no doubt that the Bulgarian collapse considerably hastened the collapse of the central powers.” Harry was buried in Doiran Military Cemetery, about one mile west of where he lost his life. He was awarded the Victory Medal, the British War Medal and the 1914-915 Star. His Colonel wrote to his parents: “Your son, Major Curtis, was killed gallantly leading his men against a very strong position held in considerable force by the Bulgars. I have always found your son to be a most conscientious man who worked very hard for the good of his regiment and country. . . “The Chaplain also wrote to the family:”I am very sorry you have not had some news before this regarding your son, Major Curtis. The movements of troops and the number of casualties must form some excuse. Major Curtis went over leading his men at dawn, Sept. 18th. He was first wounded in the arm but kept on. He was then wounded in the leg but still kept on, and was killed soon after by a trench mortar shell. He is buried where he fell on a hill named "The Hilt," about one mile west of Dorian Town.

Locația mormântului