MY WAR DEAD
CURTIS, George Edward - died 16th August 1917.
George Edward Curtis was born in Hammersmith, London, on 2nd May 1897, being the 3rd child and 2nd son of Albert George Alexander Curtis, a mosaic worker, and his wife who was born Elizabeth Maud Shilley. George was baptised at St Stephen's church, Shepherd's Bush, on 16th March 1898.
At the time of the 1911 census, George was living with his parents in Hammersmith and was at school. His older brother, Albert, had already joined the army and was serving with the Royal Fusiliers in Mauritius, although he does not appear to have seen service in the First World War. George enlisted on 15th August 1914, giving his age, correctly, as 17 years 3 months and joining the 10th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment. He subsequently served with the 8th Battalion of the same regiment, the 63rd Provisional Battalion of the Territorial Force and the 7th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment. George was hospitalised with influenza between 27th February and 6th March 1917, and was finally posted to the 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, on 8th June 1917.
Although he enlisted in 1914, George was not entitled to receive the 1914 or 1914/15 Stars, indicating that he did not see active service before January 1916 and it is not known when he was first engaged in the fighting. However, he was reported to be missing in action and presumed dead on the 16th August 1917, aged 20, while serving with the 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, and during the Battle of Passchendaele (also known as the 3rd Battle of Ypres). His body was never identified and he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium and in the 'National Roll of the Great War". George was awarded, posthumously, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
George Edward Curtis was the brother of William John Curtis and was my 4th cousin, twice removed.