Henry Curtis
Boatswain's Mate, Royal Navy. (Naval Brigade)
- Register No.
- 292 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Boatswain's Mate all Boatswain's Mates →
- Unit
- Royal Navy. (Naval Brigade) all Naval Brigade VCs →
- Date of action
- 18 June 1855 on this day → all of 1855 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Crimean War
- London Gazette
- 24 February 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Born
- 21st December 1822 at Romsey, Hampshire
- Died
- 23rd November 1896 at Portsmouth, Hampshire
- Memorial / grave
- stone at Kingston Road Cemetery, Portsmouth. grave has been re-used for another lady, a Mrs Popodopolous. The latter's family have agreed to have her name on the new stone that has been erected in his honour, along with Henry and Mrs Curtis
Digest of citation
On 18 June 1855, in the Crimea, immediately after the assault on Sebastopol a soldier of the 57th Regiment, who had been wounded in both legs, was observed sitting up and calling for help. At once the second-in-command of the scaling party, another seaman and Boatswain's Mate Curtis left the shelter of their battery works and ran forward a distance of 70 yards, across open ground, through heavy gunfire and succeeded in carrying the wounded man to safety. (See Raby 1014 and Taylor 1204) Henry CURTIS was awarded the Victoria Cross along with Lieutenant Henry James RABY later to be a Rear-Admiral, and Captain of the Forecastle John TAYLOR all of the Royal Navy (Naval Brigade}. They, without thought for their own safety, had run, under heavy gunfire, across 70 yards of open ground to rescue a soldier who had been shot in both legs. All three were decorated by Her Majesty Queen Victoria at the first Presentation of that Medal at a ceremony held on Hyde Park on the 28th June 1857. Lieutenant Raby being the first man ever to be decorated with the VC, although he was not the first to win it. That honour went to Mate Charles Davis LUCAS of the Royal Navy whose act of bravery took place on the 21st of June 1854. (Before the medal had been inaugurated) . Henry Curtis Died on at Buckland, Portsmouth on the 23rd November 1896, one month before his 74th Birthday. He was buried in Kingston Road Cemetery in the same grave as his wife. Unfortunately his
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CURTIS Henry. (Reg. No. 292)
Boatswain's Mate, Royal Navy. (Naval Brigade).
London Gazetted on 24 February 1857.
Born on 21st December 1822 at Romsey, Hampshire..
Died on 23rd November 1896 at Portsmouth, Hampshire..
Memorial on gravestone at Kingston Road Cemetery, Portsmouth.
Digest of Citation reads: On 18 June 1855, in the Crimea, immediately after the assault on Sebastopol a soldier of the 57th Regiment, who had been wounded in both legs, was observed sitting up and calling for help. At once the second-in-command of the scaling party, another seaman and Boatswain's Mate Curtis left the shelter of their battery works and ran forward a distance of 70 yards, across open ground, through heavy gunfire and succeeded in carrying the wounded man to safety. (See Raby 1014 and Taylor 1204) Henry CURTIS was awarded the Victoria Cross along with Lieutenant Henry James RABY later to be a Rear-Admiral, and Captain of the Forecastle John TAYLOR all of the Royal Navy (Naval Brigade}. They, without thought for their own safety, had run, under heavy gunfire, across 70 yards of open ground to rescue a soldier who had been shot in both legs. All three were decorated by Her Majesty Queen Victoria at the first Presentation of that Medal at a ceremony held on Hyde Park on the 28th June 1857. Lieutenant Raby being the first man ever to be decorated with the VC, although he was not the first to win it. That honour went to Mate Charles Davis LUCAS of the Royal Navy whose act of bravery took place on the 21st of June 1854. (Before the medal had been inaugurated) . Henry Curtis Died on at Buckland, Portsmouth on the 23rd November 1896, one month before his 74th Birthday. He was buried in Kingston Road Cemetery in the same grave as his wife. Unfortunately his grave has been re-used for another lady, a Mrs Popodopolous. The latter's family have agreed to have her name on the new stone that has been erected in his honour, along with Henry and Mrs Curtis.
From Alf's photographs
Curtiss VC - Kingston Rd Cem, Portsmouth. (gallery)
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: stone at Kingston Road Cemetery, Portsmouth. grave has been re-used for another lady, a Mrs Popodopolous. The latter's family have agreed to have her name on the new stone that has been erected in his honour, along with Henry and Mrs Curtis
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour Henry Curtis by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.