General Sir Arthur Currie

Experience:

General Currie began his military career in the Canadian Militia in Victoria, BC, where he honed his military knowledge and skills. This would later play a significant role in his success. Currie was without any professional military experience when he finally decided to transfer to the Canadian Corps and was scheduled for active duty. Regardless of his inexperience relative to professional officers, Currie was given command of the 2nd Infantry Brigade in 1914 because of his connection with Junior Officer Garnet Hughes and his father Samuel Hughes, the Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence at that time.

Currie’s first experience commanding troops in combat came during the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915. His leadership earned him a promotion to Major General in September 1915, and he was given command of the 1st Canadian Division; a formation he commanded at the Somme and Vimy before taking command of the four divisions of the famous Canadian Corps.

Currie never lost a battle. As Canada’s top-ranked commander, Currie worked tirelessly to ensure that the Canadian Corps was well trained and prepared before he would commit them to the battle. His meticulous planning led the Corps to a series of stunning breakthroughs in the Battle of Amiens and the Last Hundred Days of the war. Currie became recognized by friend and foe as one of the best operational commanders on the western front during the war and was a particular favourite of British Prime Minister Lloyd George. His list of victories includes Hill 70, Passchendaele, Amiens, Canal du Nord and Drocourt-Queant.

Canadian historians agree that Currie’s lack of formal military training and his militia experience allowed him to throw off out-moded military doctrine such as the “cult of the offensive” and combine civilian-style innovation with military values to form the highest sort of military “professionalism through experience and experimentation”.

The success of the Canadian forces under General Currie’s leadership at Vimy helped earn Canada a place at the Versailles peace negotiations. Perhaps more importantly, the participation of soldiers from all nine provinces and territories under a single Canadian command helped to forge the identity of Canada as a self-confident and sovereign nation – no longer a colony. This is General Currie’s greatest legacy.

Currie would prove himself more than competent as a leader through his participation in conflicts such as the Second Battle of Ypres, Mount Sorrel, the Battle of the Somme, and of course, Vimy Ridge. On June 9th, 1917, weeks after Vimy, Gen. Currie was knighted and would become the first ever Canadian-born soldier to command the Canadian Corps; it was then that he became formally recognized a Sir.

Sir Arthur Currie (Credit: Legion Magazine).

Controversy:

It is around this time that Currie’s past would receive more attention. Stories abounded of Currie, before the war, embezzling $10,000 for the 50th Regiment’s funds to cover a personal debt. His deception quickly spread through the Canadian newspapers and although Prime Minister Borden did not court-martial Canada’s legendary general, he was forced to take out loans to repay his debt. A Research Paper (written by Colonel H. M. Urquhart, DSO) that provides additional information about the alleged embezzlement and counters those allegations can be read HERE.

While the political scrutiny continued back in Canada, Currie and the Canadian Corps would achieve hard fought victories at Hill 70 and Passchendaele in 1917. Both battles would prove costly for the Canadians; it was clear that more Entente lives would have to be sacrificed to end the war. However, Currie’s consistent successes proved a battle-winning formula. The Canadian General and the Canadian Corps would continue to be victorious into 1918, in fact, the continued success during the last few months of the war would be considered by many to be Canada’s and Currie’s greatest accomplishment.

Following the war, Sir Arthur Currie would return to Canada where he became Inspector General of the Militia Forces in Canada and later, principal and vice-chancellor of McGill University, a position Currie held at the university until his death in 1933.

General Currie with British Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig (Credit: Canadian Encyclopedia).

To learn more about General Currie and how he wanted to “Pay” for victory with “shells – not lives”, visit our Road to Vimy Byng and Currie page, Hill 70: Currie’s Plan, and our Final 100 Days page.

Educators: Click here for a Lesson Plan that explores Currie’s reputation or this one that explores Canada’s FWW experience. Also a shorter learning resource: Arthur Currie Q & A worksheet (Bloom’s Taxonomy)

Main photo: General Sir Arthur Currie (pointing) with officers during an exercise in September 1917 (Credit: IWM CO1970, but shown here).