1900, Onderbank Spruit
CURTIS, A E, Private, won the Victoria Cross at Onderbank Spruit. He was decorated at Pietermaritzburg on 14 August 1901, by the Duke of York. His Victoria Cross was gazetted 15 January 19O1: "A E Curtis, Private (now Corporal), 2nd Battalion The East Surrey Regiment. Date of Act of Bravery: 23 February 1900. On the 23rd February 1900, Colonel Harris lay all day long in a perfectly open space under close fire of a Boer breastwork. The Boers fired all day at any man who moved, and Colonel Harris was wounded eight or nine times. Private Curtis, after several attempts, succeeded in reaching the Colonel, bound his wounded arm, and gave him his flask, all under heavy fire. He then tried to carry him away, but was unable, on which he called for assistance, and Private Morton came out at once. Fearing that the men would be killed, Colonel Harris told them to leave him, but they declined, and after trying to carry the Colonel on their rifles, they made a chair with their hands and so carried him out of the fire". He later became a Sergeant.
