Henry Curtis (British Army officer)
| Henry Curtis | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "Squeak"[1] |
| Born | 18 November 1888 |
| Died | 28 January 1964 (aged 75) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1908–1946 |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Unit | King's Royal Rifle Corps |
| Commands held |
4th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 3rd Infantry Brigade 46th Infantry Division 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division Aldershot Command |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Army Distinguished Service Medal (United States)[2] Mentioned in dispatches (3) |
Major-General Henry Osborne Curtis CB, DSO, MC, DL (18 November 1888 – 28 January 1964) was a British Army officer who saw service in both World War I and World War II. During the latter, he commanded the 46th Infantry Division during the Battle of France in 1940, and later the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division during the Occupation of Iceland from 1940–1942.[1]
Biography
Educated at Eton and Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Curtis was commissioned in the King's Royal Rifle Corps in 1908.[3] He saw First World War service in France, Salonika and in Palestine. Mentioned in dispatches three times and wounded three times, he was awarded the MC in 1917,[4] and the DSO in 1919.[5]
He commanded 3rd Infantry Brigade from 1938–1939.[6] Sent home from France in December 1939 to assume command of 46th Division,[6] Curtis rejoined the BEF with his division in April 1940. Evacuated from Dunkirk, he was appointed to command 49th Division in June 1940[6] which, at a reduced establishment, was detailed to occupy Iceland. Curtis spent the next two years nominally in charge of his division based in Scotland from his office in Reykjavik. Made commander of Salisbury Plain District 1943,[6] he was appointed commander of the Hampshire District in 1944[6] and the Dorset District in 1945. He retired from the army in 1946.[6]
References
- 1 2 Smart, p. 76
- ↑ "No. 35645". The London Gazette. 24 July 1942. p. 3293.
- ↑ "No. 28185". The London Gazette. 13 October 1908. p. 7383.
- ↑ "No. 30111". The London Gazette. 1 June 1917. p. 5476.
- ↑ "No. 31370". The London Gazette. 30 May 1919. p. 6818.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Army Commands" (PDF). Retrieved 4 August 2017.
Bibliography
- Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.
External links
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Algernon Ransome |
GOC 46th Infantry Division 1939–1940 |
Succeeded by Desmond Anderson |
| Preceded by Pierse Mackesy |
GOC 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division 1940–1943 |
Succeeded by Evelyn Barker |
| Preceded by Charles Norman |
GOC Aldershot District 1944–1945 |
Succeeded by Robert Ross |