Henry Joseph Laws Curtis

A Regimental Sergeant Major with the Inland Water Transport, Henry died on 25th of May 1921 at the age of 40.

Henry was born at Great Yarmouth in 1881, a son of Henry Joseph and Mary Ann Collett Curtis. In 1881 his family lived at 17 Blackfriars Road, Great Yarmouth. By 1891 they were living at 3 Regent Road, Lowestoft, and by 1901 they were living at 28 Regent Road. 

On 27 October 1899 Henry was awarded his certificate of competency as a Second Mate of a Foreign-going Ship. 

On 2 April 1903 Henry married Grace Barton McGregor at Howrah Presbyterian Church, Calcutta. Henry was a marine officer and they both lived at Calcutta. By 1918 they had a home at Crossways, Pentney, Kings Lynn.

During the First World War Henry served with the Royal Engineers. On 27 April 1915 he arrived in France as a Company Sergeant Major with the Inland Waterways and Docks unit, service number 68209. During the war he was renumbered as WR/301202, then WR/34001.

On 11 May 1919 Henry re-engaged, at Bristol, to serve for one year with the Royal Engineers, service number 1849661. He re-entered with the rank of Acting Corporal. On 16 October 1919 he joined the Inland Water Transport at Basra, Iraq. He was promoted to Acting Sergeant on 1 March 1920, Acting Company Sergeant Major on 1 June 1920, and Acting Regimental Sergeant Major on 1 September 1920.