MY WAR DEAD
CURTIS, William John - died 1st October 1916.
William John Curtis was born in Hammersmith, London, in the early part of 1900, being the 4th child and 3rd son of Albert George Alexander Curtis, a mosaic worker, and his wife who was born Elizabeth Maud Shilley.
At the time of the 1911 census, William 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. William's entry in the 'National Roll of the Great War' states that he volunteered in March 1915 at the age of 16 although he was, in fact, 15 years of age at that time. William enlisted at Willesden, joining the 9th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment and subsequently transferring to the 17th Battalion, the London Regiment.
William's service record has not survived and it is not known when he first saw active service, although his medal record indicates that it was not before 1st January 1916. William took part in the Battle of the Sommes, being reported missing in action, presumed killed, on 1st October 1916, aged 16. His body was never identified and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France and in the 'National Roll of the Great War". William was awarded, posthumously, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
William John Curtis was the brother of George Edward Curtis and was my 4th cousin, twice removed.