Born in 1895 at Woodford, son of George (General Labourer) and Alice Curtis. 1901: With his family at 25 Oxford Terrace, Chigwell Road, Woodford Green. 1911: Described as their Grandson, Thomas had been a Van Boy with the London Cartage Committee, Great Eastern Railway at Bishopsgate from May 1910, and still with living with his family at 23 Oxford Terrace. He went on to become a Van Guard.
When he enlisted at Stratford on 21st February 1915 he gave his occupation as Hawker, and was then posted to various batteries of the Royal Field Artillery. Unfortunately the record entry for his posting to 5 “C” Reserve Brigade on 6th May 1915 was deleted. It had emerged that since 09-14 he was already in the Army as Private 13173 Thomas Curtis of the Lincolnshire Regiment, and deserted from them when joining the Artillery on 21st February 1915. The trial for fraudulent enlistment was dispensed with by order of Brigadier General Potts, Commander of 37 Division Artillery, and Curtis was directed to remain in the Artillery. He was then formally posted to 5 “C” Reserve Brigade
He was Killed in Action on 28th March 1918 in the vicinity of Wancourt during the First Battle of Arras at the time of the German Spring Offensive. A German artillery barrage began at 03.00 initially falling on rear areas before moving over the front lines, and at 06.45 German troops were on the move. Being in the artillery, it is possible that Curtis was killed by this initial barrage.
After the war, 76 Labour Company found and exhumed his remains from map location H25 B 26 and they were reinterred at the Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery Wancourt. His grave is next to Driver A. Powell MM from the same unit who was also killed on 28th March 1918.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com
Service Record