Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare ‘dated reverse’ Q.S.A. group of three awarded to Major Sir Francis Curtis, Bt., Lord Strathcona’s Horse

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, dated reverse, 3 clasps, Natal, Orange Free State, Belfast, clasp block loose on riband as issued (397 Sejt. F. E. Curtis, Ld. Strathcona’s H:); British War and Victory Medals (Major Sir E. F. E. Curtis. Bt.) minor edge nick to first, toned, good very fine, rare (3) £5000-7000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards for the Boer War formed by Doug Jenkins.

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Sir Edgar Francis Egerton Curtis, Bt., was born in Victoria, British Colombia, Canada, on 18 December 1875, and was educated at Shrewsbury School. Returning to Canada, he was employed as a rancher before attesting for Lord Strathcona’s Horse at Vancouver on 8 February 1900. He served with “C” Troop in South Africa, being advanced to Sergeant, and was discharged at his own request on 15 May 1901. He subsequently served during the Great War as a Major on the General List in Egypt and Palestine, and was appointed Military Governor of Hebron in 1917. According to family tradition he ‘served with Lawrence of Arabia’s lot’, although nothing has been found that can confirm this.

Sir Francis succeeded his cousin Sir William Curtis as 5th Baronet Curtis, of Cullands Grove, Middlesex on the latter’s death on 19 December 1916. He married twice but died without issue at Wimbledon Hospital on 9 August 1943, after falling in front of a Piccadilly line train at Knightsbridge Underground Station. He was succeeded to the Baronetcy by his cousin; the title is extant.

Approximately 50 medals with the dated reverse were issued, mostly to men of Lord Strathcona’s Horse. At the time, the medals were issued without clasps, with the clasps subsequently being sent to Canada to be attached to the medals privately.