Philip Kenneth Edward Curtis
Lieutenant, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry attached to 1st Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment
- Register No.
- 294 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry attached to 1st Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment all Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry VCs →
- Date of action
- 22–23 April 1951 on this day → all of 1951 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Korean War
- London Gazette
- 1st December 1953 on this day → all of 1953 →
- Born
- 7th July 1926 at Devonport, Devon
- Died
- 23rd April (St George's Day) 1951 at the Imjin River,
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Pusan, Korea and The Gloucestershire Regt. Memorial in Korea
Digest of citation
On 22/23 April 1951 near the Imjin River, Korea, during a heavy enemy attack, No. 1 platoon under the command of Lieutenant Curtis, was ordered to carry out a counter-attack which was initially successful, but was eventually held up by heavy fire and grenandes. The lieutenant then ordered some of his men to give covering fire while he himself rushed the main position of resistance. In this charge he was severely wounded but he insisted on making a second attempt. While making another desperate charge he was killed within a few yards of his objective
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CURTIS, Philip Kenneth Edward (Reg. No.294)
Lieutenant Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry attached to 1st Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment.
London Gazetted on 1st December 1953.
Born on: 7th July 1926 at Devonport, Devon.
Died on: 23rd April (St George's Day) 1951 at the Imjin River, Korea. (Killed in Action)
Memorial at: United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Pusan, Korea and The Gloucestershire Regt. Memorial in Korea.
Digest of Citation reads: On 22/23 April 1951 near the Imjin River, Korea, during a heavy enemy attack, No. 1 platoon under the command of Lieutenant Curtis, was ordered to carry out a counter-attack which was initially successful, but was eventually held up by heavy fire and grenandes. The lieutenant then ordered some of his men to give covering fire while he himself rushed the main position of resistance. In this charge he was severely wounded but he insisted on making a second attempt. While making another desperate charge he was killed within a few yards of his objective.
Korea. (Killed in Action)
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Pusan, Korea and The Gloucestershire Regt. Memorial in Korea
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 Philip Kenneth Edward Curtis by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.