Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born in Adelaide in 1885 and was a labourer by trade upon his joining the 9th Light Horse in November 1914

Serving with 'B' Squadron, he landed on Gallipoli on 16 May 1915 and was charged for disobeying the order of a superior Officer on 7 August 1915

That originally carried a sentence of 2 years imprisonment which was eventually reduced to 1 year Field Punishment and then to 3 months Field Punishment by Major-General Sir A. J. Godley on 12 September 1915

Remaining on Gallipoli, he was attached to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade whilst awaiting his punishment and returned to his unit on 15 November 1915

Whilst on Gallipoli, the unit were in the reserve for the Battle of the Nek but shared in the attack at Hill 60 on 27 August, which resulted in the death of the replacement commanding officer Lieutenant-Colonel Carew Reynell

Withdrawn from their positions, the unit thence joined the Sinai and Palestine campaign

Currie was himself wounded by gun shot to his right arm and earned his D.C.M. at the Battle of Rafa on 9 January 1917 - the month before they had gone in at the Battle of Magdhaba at bayonet point

His DCM recommendation reads: "For devotion to duty as a stretcher bearer and at RAFA on 9 January 1917, for great gallantry under very heavy fire attending to a wounded comrade, he himself being wounded while doing so. He refused to stop bandaging his comrade until he had completed his work"

Citation stated - "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Although himself wounded he tended a wounded comrade under very heavy fire"

Promulgated in the London Gazette of 24 April 1917

He was also awarded a Mention in Despatches promulgated in the London Gazette of 6 July 1917

Currie was evacuated to Cairo to have his wounds tended, before joining the ANZAC Signallling Squadron. He variously then went sick on several occasions, before gastoenteritis meant he would be embarked upon the Hospital Ship Karoola for Australia & was discharged medically unfit in November 1918