A First War Memorial Group to the Currie Brothers of Bayfield, Ontario

Private Harvey J. Currie, 7th Infantry Battalion: British War Medal (491304 PTE. H. CURRIE. 7-CAN.INF.); and Victory Medal (491304 PTE. H. CURRIE. 7-CAN.INF.); Canadian Memorial Cross, George V (491304 Pte H.CURRIE.); and Memorial Plaque (HARVEY CURRIE). Naming is officially impressed on the First World War pair, engraved on the MC, the MP in raised lettering. The First World War pair is un-mounted, dark patina on the BWM; the MC in its case of issue; the MP in its cardboard container of issue. Accompanied by copies of his Index Cards, Attestation Paper, Service Records, Military Will, a Photograph of Harvey Currie with the 9th Platoon, C Company, 33rd Battalion, along with a newspaper article. Private Kenneth Currie, 1st Infantry Battalion: British War Medal (654469 PTE. K. CURRIE. 1-CAN.INF.); Victory Medal (654469 PTE. K. CURRIE. 1-CAN.INF.); Canadian Memorial Cross, George V (654469 Pte. K. CURRIE); and Memorial Plaque (KENNETHCURRIE). Naming is officially impressed on the First World War pair, engraved on the MC, the MP in raised lettering. The First World War pair is un-mounted, dark patina on the BWM; the MC in its case of issue; the MP in its cardboard container of issue. Accompanied by his Identification Tag (bakelite, stamped "CURRIE. K. 654469 1.BATT.INF. CANADIANS P.", 35 mm). Accompanied by copies of his Index Cards, Attestation Paper, Service Records and Military Will, along with a newspaper article. Light contact, better than very fine. Footnote: Harvey J. Currie was born on March 11, 1895 in Clinton, Huron County, Ontario, the son of James and Agnes Currie. He was a resident of Bayfield, Ontario when he signed his CEF Attestation Paper as a Private (491304) with the 33rd Infantry Battalion, on August 9, 1915, in Clinton, at the age of 20, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Angus (should be Agnes) Currie of Bayfield, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Labourer. The Battalion was raised and mobilized in London, Ontario under the authority of G.O. 86, July 1, 1915. The Battalion sailed March 17, 1916 aboard the S.S. Lapland, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel A. Wilson with a strength of 46 officers and 946 other ranks, arriving in England on the 25th. He was stationed at Shorncliffe, when he received his transfer to the 7th Infantry Battalion in France on May 25, 1916, arriving in the French theatre on the 26th. After eleven days, he joined his new unit on June 6th, serving in France and Flanders with the 7th Battalion "British Columbia Regiment". Private Harvey Currie was Killed in Action on September 9, 1916 during the Battle of Ginchy, as part of the Battle of the Somme, at the age of 21. He is remembered with honour on the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France and is commemorated on page 74 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. In his Military Will, dated August 27, 1916, he stated that "In the event of my death, I give the whole of my property and effects to my Mother, Mrs. Agnes Currie, Bayfield, Ont. Can." A memorial service was later held for Harvey Currie in the Methodist church in Bayfield. As a dependent of a deceased soldier, his mother, Agnes, subsequently received a War Service Gratuity in the amount of $180. Since she was widowed, his mother received his British War Medal and Victory Medal, his Memorial Plaque and Scroll, along with his Canadian Memorial Cross. His younger brother, Kenneth Currie was born on April 16, 1898 in Clinton, Ontario, the son of James and Agnes Currie. He was a resident of Bayfield, Ontario when he signed his CEF Attestation Paper as a Private (654469) with the 161st Infantry Battalion "Huron Battalion", on February 17, 1916, in Clinton, at the age of 17, two months shy of his eighteenth birthday, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Mrs. Agnes Currie of Bayfield, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Labourer. The Battalion was raised in Huron County, Ontario with mobilization headquarters at London, under the authority of G.O. 151, December 22, 1915. The Battalion sailed November 1, 1916 aboard the S.S. Lapland, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel H.B. Combe with a strength of 28 officers and 749 other ranks, arriving in Liverpool, England on the 11th. In England, the Battalion was absorbed into the 4th Reserve Battalion at Bramshott on February 23, 1918. Five weeks later, he proceeded overseas to the 1st Infantry Battalion in France, on March 28, 1918, arriving in the French theatre on the 29th and posted to the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp on the 30th. Almost four and a half months later, he left for his new unit on August 12, 1918, joining them in the field on the 18th, serving in France and Flanders with the 1st Battalion "Western Ontario Regiment". Private Kenneth Currie was Killed in Action on August 30, 1918 during the Battle of the Drocourt-Quéant Line, at the age of 20. He is buried in Upton Wood Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, Grave Reference: D. 3. and is commemorated on page 393 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. In his Military Will, dated October 11, 1916, he bequeathed all his real estate and personal estate to his mother, Agnes Currie of Bayfield, Ontario. Since she was widowed, his mother received his British War Medal and Victory Medal, his Memorial Plaque and Scroll, along with his Canadian Memorial Cross.