The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private T P Curtis

Photograph by "Marvin & Samme Templin"

Private Thomas Patrick CURTIS, L/10416, 6th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, death assumed on or since, 30th November 1917, age 21.

Born Tonbridge, Kent, son of William and Beatrice Lilian Curtis, (nee Gill), of 77, Priory Road, Tonbridge, Kent.

1911 Census - 77, Priory Road, Tonbridge, Kent - William Curtis, head, age 42, married, fruit worker, own account, born Droxford, Hampshire; Beatrice Curtis, wife, age 35, married 17 years, 10 children, 8 still alive, born City of London; Lillian Curtis, daughter, age 16, single, ironer in laundry, born Tonbridge, Kent; Thomas Curtis, son, age 15, single, machine boy in printing trade, born Tonbridge, Kent; Albert Curtis, son, age 11, school, born Tonbridge, Kent; Arthur Curtis, son, age 9, born Tonbridge, Kent; George Curtis, son, age 6, born Tonbridge, Kent; Beatrice Curtis, daughter, age 4, born Tonbridge, Kent; Henry Curtis, son, age 2, born Tonbridge, Kent; Kathleen Curtis, daughter, age 3 weeks.

Enlisted Maidstone, Kent, age 18 years & 5 months, height 5ft 4 inches, weight 108lbs. Formerly butcher.

7th August 1914, enlisted & posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 24th August 1915, posted 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 5th October 1916, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 19th January 1917, posted Eastern Command Depot, Shoreham by Sea; 19th April 1917, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 23rd May 1917, posted BEF & 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 30th November 1917, posted missing.

7th June 1919, Statement of Relatives - Father, William Curtis, 77, Priory Road, Tonbridge, Kent; Mother, Beatrice Curtis, 77, Priory Road, Tonbridge, Kent; Brothers - Albert Curtis, age 19, 77, Priory Road, Tonbridge, Kent; Arthur Curtis, age 17, 77, Priory Road, Tonbridge, Kent; George Curtis, age 14, 77, Priory Road, Tonbridge, Kent; Henry Curtis, age 10, 77, Priory Road, Tonbridge, Kent; William Curtis, age 3, 77, Priory Road, Tonbridge, Kent; Edwin Curtis, age 1, 77, Priory Road, Tonbridge, Kent; Sisters - Lily Curtis, age 25, 77, Priory Road, Tonbridge, Kent; Beatrice Curtis, age 12, 77, Priory Road, Tonbridge, Kent; Kathleen Curtis, age 8, 77, Priory Road, Tonbridge, Kent; Florrie Curtis, age 5, 77, Priory Road, Tonbridge, Kent; Grandparents, William Curtis, 24 Norfolk Road, Tonbridge, Kent; Nephew, Thomas Curtis, age 4, 77, Priory Road, Tonbridge, Kent; Uncles / Aunts - Albert Curtis, age 49, 15 Danvers Road, Tonbridge, Kent; James Curtis, age 47, 22 Norfolk Road, Tonbridge, Kent; Mable Curtis, age 34, 24 Norfolk Road, Tonbridge, Kent.

Commemorated at Cambrai Memorial, Panel 8, Louverval, Nord, France.

Commemorated on Tonbridge War Memorial - Tonbridge War Memorial - The original World War I memorial at the Junction of Pembury Road and Quarry Hill. The names were later re-inscribed in the new Memorial Garden in Bradford Street.

From Tonbridge History - Tom Curtis was born at Tonbridge in 1896, the son of William and Beatrice Curtis. In 1911 he is recorded as living at 77, Priory Road. After leaving school he worked as a machine boy for one of the local printers, and then in a butcher’s shop. He attested for the Royal West Kent Regiment at Maidstone on 4th August 1914, the day war was declared. Tom Curtis was posted to the 7th Battalion RWK on 24th August 1915 and landed in France the following day– the 7th Battalion had landed at Le Havre on 27th July 1915 so he was, presumably, sent in a reinforcement draft. He had two spells at Depot – usually this would signify that he had been incapacitated in some way, wound or sickness, or a period of re-training. Unfortunately not enough of his service record has survived to confirm this. He ended up serving with the 6th Battalion which had been in France since 1st June 1915. He was presumed to have died on or after 30th November 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial.

London Gazette 31st October 1919.

SOLDIERS' AND AIRMEN'S BALANCES UNDISPOSED OF.

In pursuance of "The Regimental Debts Act, 1893," notice is hereby given that there is available for distribution amongst the Next of Kin or others entitled the sum of money set opposite to the name of each of the deceased Soldiers and Airmen named in the lists which are published with this notice in the London Gazette and the "Army List," and are also to be seen at' the Regimental Depots throughout the United Kingdom.

Applications from persons supposing themselves entitled as Next of Kin should be addressed by letter to "The Secretary, War Office, Imperial Institute, South Kensington, London, S.W. 7," and marked outside "Effects."

R. H. BRADE. War Office, October 31st, 1919.

List CCCCCXXVIII of the names of deceased Soldiers whose Personal Estate is held for distribution amongst the Next of Kin or others entitled. Effects 1918-1919.

Curtis T P, Private, Royal West Kent Regt. £25 13s 11d

This page was last updated on 24-Apr-2023.