Curtis, Harry Bramham

BORN HULL 1888. SON OF WILLIAM & HARRIET MARIA CURTIS, OF 30  SOMERSCALES STREET, HULL. BROTHERS WILLIAM G & BERNARD CURTIS. SON OF A CARPENTER. HE WORKED AS A BRICKLAYER. HE MARRIED LILY AND LIVED AT 11 LINCOLN TERRACE, LIDDELL STREET, HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESS) WITH THREE CHILDREN, LILY, LAURENCE AND HANNAH.

HE ENLISTED IN HULL. SERVED AS PRIVATE, 200989, 1/4TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. POSTED TO FRANCE, ON 28/10/1915. KILLED IN ACTION, ON 27/05/1918, AGED 30. HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE SOISSONS MEMORIAL. HIS WIDOW LILY, DIED ON 03/02/1919 AND HIS THREE CHILDREN WERE CARED FOR BY MRS ELIZABETH MEGSON, AT 11 LINCOLN TERRACE, LIDDELL STREET, HULL.

1/4^th East Yorkshire Battalion War Diary – 27^th May 1918

When the storm of gas and High Explosive shells broke over the 50^th Division, at 1am, on 27 May 1918, the 1/4^th East Yorkshire Regiment of the 150^th Brigade (the left Battalion, of the left Brigade of the Division) were disposed as follows: “A” Company held the front line,  “B” Company was in close support in Trench Falais (in CRONNE, at the disposal of the 5^th Green Howards (on the right of the 1/4^th EYR), “D” Company was in support in Marais. For two and half hours the Tornado swept the whole divisional area, causing many casualties and practically destroying the Trenches. The 1/4^th EYR was completely disorganised and rear guard actions were fought back to the River Aisne and the Bridge at Maizy, “the number which succeeded in crossing being very small.” Total strength of the 1/4^th EYR was 4 Officers and 105 Other Ranks, out of 30 Officers and 642 Other Ranks, which began, before the attack. The Battle continued until 6^th June 1918, but the 1/4^th  EYR took no further part after the 27^th May and retired to Vert La Gravelle.