14557474 Private Lewis James CURTIS, 5th Wiltshire Regiment: to be re-interred

Discussion in 'British Army Units - Others' started by Jolly Squire, Sep 20, 2012.

  1. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    CURTIS, LEWIS JAMES

    Rank:
    Private
    Service No:
    14557474
    Date of Death:
    02/10/1944
    Age:
    19
    Regiment/Service:
    Wiltshire Regiment

    5th Bn.
    Grave Reference
    25. C. 9.
    Cemetery
    ARNHEM OOSTERBEEK WAR CEMETERY
    Additional Information:
    Son of John Edward and Kathleen Curtis, of Liskeard, Cornwall.

    N.B.
    Please note that this casualty has yet to be buried, however a ceremony is planned for later this year (2012); his official point of commemoration will therefore remain as Panel 5 of the Groesbeek Memorial until that time. Please contact the Commission for further details, if required.
     
  2. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

  3. Medic7922

    Medic7922 Senior Member

  4. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

  5. gliderrider

    gliderrider Senior Member

    Many thanks for the Link John, and also to echo Airborne Medics comments.
     
  6. martin14

    martin14 Senior Member

    CL1 likes this.
  7. martin14

    martin14 Senior Member

    Good question Tanja, thank you.

    All I can say is that the UK MoD were officially notified of Pte Curtis’ identification in 2008, like the news release says. His next of kin were found very shortly after. Why it nevertheless has taken four years for his mortal remains to be re-interred in Oosterbeek War Cemetery, that is a question only the UK MoD can answer.

    I hope to see you next Wednesday at Oosterbeek, when we pay our last respects to this brave young Cornish soldier.

    Squire



    Thank you for your answer.

    I realy do not understand why it takes so long fot the MoD. There must be a good a reason for it, otherwise it would be unrespecfull to this soldier. Four years for his relatives to wait before the can take him to his final restplace is very long.
    I can only respect their patience.

    Yes, we will meet next wednessday at Oosterbeek.

    Greetings

    Tanja

    See y


    I actually talked to an MoD Official today, she looked at me liked she was
    tired of hearing the question, and summed it up in one word:

    Fromelles


    Along with a particularly unimpressive 'better late than never' face.
     
  8. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

  9. martin14

    martin14 Senior Member

    Martin - from the pictures it looks like we stood next to each other!


    Very much so !

    If you look your pic #7, on the right, the nose and the glasses
    poking through.. that's me :D

    I am usually pretty easy to find, I wear a Canadian Poppy.
    Many times the only one.

    I knew I should have checked here before going, oh well
    maybe next time us forum types can actually have a meet !

    btw, the MoD rep is the woman in the same picture, at the end of the
    flag line, obscured by an umbrella.
     
  10. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

  11. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    yes indeed
    thank you Jolly Squire , Stolpi and Martin

    regards
    Clive
     
  12. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    I think that the small team from the Dutch Army Recovery and Identification unit deserve our appreciation and thanks for their hard work and dedication in managing to positively identify Lewis after all those years.

    John
     
  13. Tanja van Zon-Anderson

    Tanja van Zon-Anderson Senior Member

    Thank you Jolly Squire for informing us.
    You said that it would be worth going because of the intresting details.
    And you where right.

    Thank you Stolpi and Martin for the photo's. The are very good.

    Greetings

    Tanja
     
    stolpi likes this.
  14. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    The possessions of a Cornish soldier, which were found in his field grave in the Netherlands, have been presented to his family in Liskeard.
    Private Lewis James Curtis was killed while serving with the 5th Battalion, The Wiltshire Regiment, in 1944.
    His family have been given items including his toothbrush and razor.
    Pte Curtis' remains were identified four years ago and he was buried with full military honours at the Oosterbeek War Cemetery on Friday.

    Read more

    BBC News - Cornish family given World War II soldier's possessions
     
  15. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    Peter

    A slight correction Pte Curtis's funeral was held on Wednesday 3rd October, not Friday as the BBC report. A number of forum members attended the service and have posted some great photographs.

    John
     
  16. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    It is comforting to know that the family now have a grave to visit.

    Reading the circumstances raises the question of how many more field graves were washed away and never found.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  17. Jolly Squire

    Jolly Squire Member

    Thanks for posting Peter!

    Squire
     
  18. white1

    white1 Discharged

    touching story and great to know the family have a grave to pay their respect and that items have been returned to the family.
     

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