David Vivian Currie, VC, CD was born July 8, 1912 and served in the Second World War with the 29th Canadian Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (South Alberta Regiment). Currie was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry while in command of a group of tanks and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada infantry while posted at St. Lambert-sur-Dives.
Currie was given the task “on 18 August 1944 to capture and hold the village of St Lambert-sur-Dives during the fighting to block the escape route of large German forces cut off in the Falaise pocket.[2]” “The Germans were out in the open; the Canadians were dug in. ‘We were lucky,’ Currie said, ‘We suffered no casualties from our own guns, but it had a very devastating effect on the Germans.'” [3]
The London Gazette article of Friday November 1944 recounts the honour when King George V1 pinned the Victoria Cross on Currie’s Chest. Currie was rushed to Buckingham Palace to receive the award. This newspaper article says; “The courage and devotion to duty shown by Major Currie during a prolonged period of heavy fighting were outstanding and had a far-reaching effect on the successful outcome of the battle.” “When had he first heard of the award? Well his unit commander had called him in. He just said, “You’re now Major Currie, V.C.” How did he feel? Well it was a jolt. He had to sit down very suddenly to get over the shock.”[1]
Currie had joined the militia in 1939, and the Regular Army in 1940. He moved quickly up the ranks, promoted to Lieutenant and then to Captain by 1941. In 1944 he was awarded the rank of Major.
Currie retired from the army with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Upon retirement from the militia, he served eighteen years as a Sergeant at Arms in the Canadian House of Commons. Currie was also awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration ( “CD”) which is bestowed upon Canadian Forces personnel after completion of twelve years military service
The Lt. Colonel D.V. Currie Armoury In Moose Jaw is named in his honour as is Currie Avcnue in Montgomery Place of the City of Saskatoon. Ontario has erected an historical plaque in his honour.
Currie was born in the town of Sutherland, Saskatchewan. The town was annexed in 1956 as a neighbourhood in the city of Saskatoon. Currie survived the war, passing away June 20 1986 at the age of 73 in Ottawa, Ontario.
Bibliography:
1944: Major David Currie battles in Normandy, wins V.C. CBC.ca. Date accessed June 13, 2015.
Armstrong, Bart. Trained as an Auto Mechanic and Welder, goes off to war and proves Heroic. Reocmmended for DSO, but gets awarded the Victoria Cross. January 19, 2014. Canadian Medal of Honor. Date accessed June 13, 2015.
Boswell, Randy and Lynn McAuley. Province with a Heart: Celebrating 100 Years in Saskatchewan Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post. Edition illustrated. CanWest Books, 2005. ISBN 0973671904, 9780973671902. Digitized online by Google Books. Date accessed June 13, 2015.
Coneghan, Daria and David G. Marshall. Victoria Cross Saskatchewan Recipients. Canadian Plains Research Center. University of Regina. 2006.
David Vivian Currie Wikipedia. June 11, 2015. Version ID 666496322 Date accessed June 13, 2015.
Victoria Cross Winners The Saskatchewan Dragoons. 24 Aug 2003. Date accessed June 13, 2015.
[1] Scott, Lieut. Jack. Major Currie Given jolt when told of V.C. award. The Maple Leaf. November 28, 1944. Google news archive. Date accessed June 13, 2015.
[2] Victoria Cross – Second World War, 1939-1945. David Vivian Currie. National Defence and the Canadian Forces. 2009-04-14 Date accessed June 13, 2015.
David Vivian Currie Badass of the Week. Date accessed June 13, 2015.
Victoria Cross recipient and Second World War tough buy: Major David Vivian Currie December 2, 2014. Discover Blog. Library and Archives Canada Blog. Date accessed June 13, 2015.
[3] Whitaker, Shelagh and Dennis Whitaker. Normandy: The Real Story Edition unabridged. Random House Publishing Group, 2009. ISBN 0307538974, 9780307538970. Digitized online by Google Books. Date accessed June 13, 2015.