In 1911 Albert was 16 years old, he was born in Swindon, Wiltshire. His parents were Alfred and Annie (nee Balme) Curtis. Albert was a motor car fitter in a motor engineering works. His father and elder brother, Alfred, were oil engine fitters in an agricultural engineering company. In 1911 Frederick, younger brother, was 14 years old.

The family including his married elder brother, Alfred, and his wife Dora (nee Bryan born in Stamford), were living at 14 Priory Road, Stamford. In 1901 they lived at 64 Nun’s Street Derby. Here his father was a cycle fitter and his mother was a fried fish purveyor operating from home. His mother died in 1916 in South Rauceby, Lincolnshire.

No information of Albert’s military service has been found.

He married Agnes Burton in Peterborough in 1916. They had four daughters and a son. They were all born in Peterborough. It is probable the family had moved to Ampthill, Bedfordshire by 1938 . This was where their two elder daughters were married.

His wife died in Woburn Sands in 1945, followed by his father in 1947. In 1948 Albert also died in Woburn Sands. He was then living at 33 Theydon Avenue, Woburn Sands.

Footnote : Alfred & Frederick’s cousin, Louis Willyama Avery, whose father Louis Henry Mayers Avery, had emigrated to Australia in 1888, served in the Australian Forces in Europe gaining the Military Medal:

Military Medal
‘During the operations east of YPRES on 4th/5th October, 1917 Cpl. AVERY was engaged in the construction of a communication trench between two strong points. When his Section Officer was wounded he assumed charge of the work and by his masterly handling of the men ensured the best results possible. By his courage and devotion to duty he set a splendid example to those under him.’
Source: ‘Commonwealth Gazette’ No. 31
Date: 7 March 1918

CURTIS FAMILY : Between 1897 and 1901 in this branch of the family the surname CURTIS had replaced the original family name AVERY. The reason why this happened remains a mystery. No records have been found.