Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Vimy Ridge’ M.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant W. E. Currie, 4th Field Ambulance, Canadian Army Medical Corps, late Royal Army Medical Corps, for gallantry at Vimy Ridge - 9 April 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (1251 Pte. W. E. Currie. 4/F.A. Can: A.M.C.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal (14643 Pte W. E. Currie R.A.M.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (14643 Pte W. E. Currie R.A.M.C.); 1914-15 Star (1251 Pte. W. E. Currie Can: A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (1251 A. Sjt. W. E. Currie. C.A.M.C.) mounted for wear, with the recipient’s St. John Ambulance Association Re-Examination Cross, bronze, the reverse engraved ‘336052 William E. Currie.’, with eight bronze date bars for 1933, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940 and 1941,cleaned, Q.S.A. and K.S.A. renamed, generally nearly very fine or better (lot) £600-£800

M.M. London Gazette 9 July 1917:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the evacuation of wounded under shell fire during the operations of April 9th 1917.’

William Edwin Currie was born in Aston, Birmingham in October 1880. He was a Goldsmith by trade, and served with 1st Volunteer Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own Middlesex Regiment from 1898 and the Medical Militia from 1899. Currie attested at Aldershot, 23 October 1900, for regular service with Royal Army Medical Corps, and served in South Africa with No. 12 Stationary Hospital. In 1904, he transferred at his own request to the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, serving as 8092. Currie transferred to the Army Reserve in 1908 and was discharged on completion of his engagement, 22 October 1912.

Currie emigrated to Canada and was living at Wadena, Saskatchewan when he attested at Winnipeg becoming an original member of the 4th Field Ambulance, CAMC. He disembarked in England on 29 April 1915 and served in France from 13 September 1915 (and distinguished himself at Vimy Ridge). Currie had applied for a Commission, 10 March 1917, and proceeded to Officer Cadet training at Prior Park, Bath on 8 August 1918. While undergoing officer training, he was promoted Acting Sergeant, CAMC, with effect 7 September 1918. While Currie was to be commissioned in the infantry, the war ended before that occurred and he was returned to the C.E.F. on 4 March 1919 and discharged at St. John, New Brunswick 16 days later as Cadet (Acting Sergeant).

Currie resided in Ottawa joining the 23rd Field Ambulance, RCAMC in the Non-Permanent Active Militia. He was discharged from the Army in 1940, aged 60. Currie was employed in the Ottawa area and served in the St. John Ambulance. He died at Ottawa Civic Hospital 11 March 1955.

Sold with the following related original documentation: Canadian Pay Book for use on Active Service; a souvenir history of 18 Officer Cadet Bn listing staff, graduates, roll of honour and final course nominal roll, annotated by recipient; two named and dated Department of Labour, Ontario Stationary Engineer’s Certificates, Fourth Class; various ephemera relating to commission application and service, and newspaper cuttings.

For the medals to the recipient’s brother-in-law, see Lot 205.