'Corporal A. E. Curtis VC'

Cigarette card published by Taddy and Company, Number 64 from the series, 'VC Heroes - Boer War' a set of 125 cards, 1902.

A portrait of Albert Edward Curtis, 2nd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, bareheaded, wearing his Victoria Cross after a photograph by Wildmar, Woking.

The caption below records that Curtis was 'awarded the Victoria Cross for gallant bravery on Feby 23rd 1900 during the advance on Ladysmith. He attended his commanding officer who was wounded & rescued him from a place of danger.'

The action occurred at Onderbank Spruit, South Africa, on 23 February 1900 during the Boer War (1899-1902). Curtis was born 6 January 1866 at Guilford in Surrey and served with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the East Surrey Regiment.

Cigarette cards were produced from the mid 1870s until the end of World War Two (1939-1945). Used to strengthen thin cigarette packs the cards were quickly developed into advertising devices. Series of cards covering every conceivable subject, from sportsmen to flora and fauna, were produced to encourage collectors and potential smokers alike.

From a collection of 14 cigarette cards.