43rd Wessex Division

Lt-Col. W.S.C. Curtis

/ Matthew K Barrett / Leave a comment

Lieutenant-Colonel W.S.C. Curtis
4th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry

For gallant and determined leadership. He led his platoon in the attack on Borok on 10 August 1919. He organised an attack on a strong enemy position on the banks of the Teda River, and outflanked it. He was wounded whilst leading the final assault up the hill, but his platoon captured the position, enabling the remainder of the company to proceed towards the first objective.

(M.C. citation, 21 January 1920)

Born on 1 August 1899 in Paddington, Middlesex, Walter Stopford Constable Curtis was educated at Marlborough College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned with the Somerset Light Infantry in April 1918 and assigned to the 1st Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment in France. He volunteered with the North Russia Relief Force the during the Russian Civil War in 1919. He served with the 46th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and earned the Military Cross.

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Lt-Col. H.A. Borradaile

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Lieutenant-Colonel H.A. Borradaile
5th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment
7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry

Quiet, almost studious in manner, he never raised his voice, but no one had any doubt about who was in charge. As a CO he once displayed impressive stamina by accepting the hospitality of all 11 of the Battalion cookhouses in success on a festive occasion.

 (Daily Telegraph, 30 Dec 1993, 21)

Born on 22 June 1907 in Exeter, Devon, Hugh Alastair Borradaile was commissioned into the Devonshire Regiment after graduating from RMC, Sandhurst in 1926. Eager to service overseas, he was seconded to the 4th Battalion, King’s African Rifles from 1931 to 1937. He afterwards completed staff college and became an instructor at Camberley in 1940. Following a posting as a military attaché to Dublin, he served as a general staff officer with the West Africa headquarters until 1943.

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