Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Currie

Born: December 5, 1875
Died: November 20, 1933
Place of Birth: Napperton, Ontario

• After finishing high school, he moved to Victoria, BC where he taught school and sold real estate.

• He enlisted in the militia and quickly rose up to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of Artillery.

• When WWI started in 1914, Currie was given command of the first Canadian unit to assist Britain.

• He won distinction at Ypres and Saint-Julien in Belgium and at Vimy Ridge in France.

• Currie could see the advantage of keeping the Canadians under Canadian leadership.

• He was a real soldier and a keen commander who planned and trained the units under him.

• Currie was put in command of four divisions and replaced British General Sir Julian Byng.

• Because of his successful leadership, he became the first appointed General of the Canadian Army.

• He took part in every major action of the Canadian forces on the Western Front.

• Along the way, he picked up the nick-name "Guts and Gaiters".

• It was Currie's warfare theories that literally won WWI for the allies.

• Currie received many distinctions but none higher than being knighted by Great Britain.

• In many ways, he was respected as a true leader and he stood for what Canada was all about.

Last Updated: June 13, 2006
© Canada-Heros/Don Jones 2003