5 (BC) Regiment Museum and Archives     |   home About the Museum   |   About the Archives and Reference Library   |   Recent Arrivals   |   The Teunis Jan Koldewijn Collection of military music recordings   |   Museum Shop   |   Seeking Military Records   |   Wanted - Your Treasures   |   Contact's   |   Sir Arthur W. Currie   |   Museum  News   |   The Story of "In Flanders Fields" | Members Sir Arthur W. Currie, GCMG, KCB, VD 1875-1933 Citizen -Soldier -Educator A Great Canadian Arthur William Currie was born in Strathroy, Ontario. As a young man he moved to Victoria, British Columbia, intending to pursue a career in education. Instead, he entered private business as an insurance agent and real estate broker. At the urging of a friend, he joined the 5th (British Columbia) Regiment, Canadian Garrison Artillery in 1897 and quickly became a dedicated and enthusiastic member, rising to command the Regiment in 1908. In 1914 he was appointed to command a new militia regiment being organized in Victoria -the 50th Gordon Highlanders. Currie so impressed his peers that in 1914 he was selected by the Minister of Militia, Colonel Sam Hughes, to command an Infantry Brigade in the 1 st Canadian Division. An efficient and effective commander, Currie was appointed to command the 1st Canadian Division in 1915 and after the Battle of Vimy Ridge he succeeded Sir Julien Byng as General Officer Commanding the Canadian Corps. Currie was knighted by H.M. King George V in 1917 and was honoured by the Governments of France, Belgium and the United States. Following the First War, Sir Arthur Currie became the President and Vice Chancellor of McGill University, and he is credited with instituting the post war expansion of McGill campus and preserving its programs during the depression. Sir Arthur Currie died in Montreal on November 30th, 1933 after a brief illness. His death received world wide attention and it was estimated that one quarter of the population of the City of Montreal attended his funeral. For Further Reading: Arthur Currie by Hugh M. Urquhart J.M. Dent & Sons (Canada) Limited 1950 Sir Arthur Currie, A Biography By Daniel G Dancocks Methuen, Toronto, 1985 General Sir Arthur Currie, A Military Biography University of Toronto Press Canadian War Museum Historical Publication No 22 The Last Day the Last Hour The Currie Libel trial by Robert J Sharp Carswell Company of Canada 1988 World Wide Web address account of The Last 100 Days of World War I (includes Curries address to the troops)