Private
Currie, Charles E.
Unit
25th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles)
Branch
Infantry
Service Component
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Service Number
414708
birth
1886/02/19
Lingan, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada
death
1916/09/29
Somme, France
grave
Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Vimy Ridge, France
Gender
Male
Charles E. Currie was born in Lingan, Nova Scotia, on 19 February 1886.
A chemist, Currie enlisted in the 40th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Nova Scotia) at Kentville, Nova Scotia, on 20 July 1915. He sailed to England with his unit on 18 October 1915. Upon arrival in England, on 25 October 1915, the 40th Battalion was sent to Shorncliffe, Kent, where it provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field. On 3 November 1915, Currie was transferred to the 17th Reserve Battalion for further training. He stayed with this unit until he was shipped to France in early February 1916.
On 3 February 1916, Currie embarked for France as part of a reinforcement draft for the 25th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles). He joined the unit in the field two days later.
Currie was killed in action on the Somme on 29 September 1916, after his battalion relieved the 14th Canadian Infantry Battalion on the front lines facing Kenora Trench. His body was not recovered. The 14th Battalion had been severely mauled by heavy shelling and machine gun fire during its unsuccessful attempt to take the trench. The 25th Battalion’s war diary notes that it, too, experienced “extremely severe shelling” after it entered the line.
Charles E. Currie is commemorated on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, on Vimy Ridge, in France.
