CURRIE, Harvey J.

DIVISIONAL UNIT:        1st Canadian Infantry Division
                                             2nd Infantry Brigade
                                             7th Battalion - British Columbia
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   491304
RESIDENCE:                    Clinton – Ontario 
DATE OF BIRTH:            March 11, 1895
                                             Clinton – Goderich Township – County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           September 9, 1916               21 years     6 months
MEMORIAL:                    Vimy Memorial – Vimy –
                                             Pas de Calais - France
MOTHER:                          Mrs. Agnes Curtis – Bayfield – Ontario 
Occupation:                        Labourer                               Religion:     Wesleyan
Enlistment:                         Clinton – August 9, 1915
Enlistment Age:                 20 years     5 months

Private Currie arrived in Halifax, boarded his ship, departed Canada on March 17, 1916 and arrived in England on 
March 25, 1916.
Once in England Private Currie then transferred to the 2nd Battalion – Eastern Ontario and arrived in France on May 25, 1916. After arriving in France, he then transferred to the 7th Battalion – British Columbia and joined them in the field on June 7, 1916.
While Private Currie and his fellow company comrades were repelling an enemy attack when enemy shell fire came down and he was killed immediately from wounds received. The enemy attack took place south east of Moquet Farm which was near Courcelette in France.
On this day the weather was fine and the winds were from the north and north-east.
The enemy tried two times to attack the Brigade front with the first being at 5 am and they were thrown back by machine-gun fire and rifle fire. The Germans tried again at 10 am and again he was repulsed by machine-gun fire and rifle fire. Both of the enemy attacks were supported by very heavy enemy artillery fire on the Battalion communication and support trenches.
During these two attacks the 7th Battalion had 13 killed and 34 men wounded.
It was at some point during these two attacks when Private Currie lost his life in battle.
Private Currie’s mother Agnes was present at the Bayfield Cenotaph on July 26, 1933 as the new cenotaph was unveiled.