Claro Times – 20th February 1915
Photos – The Currie family of Harrogate, is
a notable one, no less than nine of its members serving their King
and Country. There are six sons, and three sons-in-law, their
photographs being given above. From left to right the names are : Private
Arthur Currie, Grenadier Guards; Private A Currie,
"Bantams"; Driver Donald Currie, Royal Field
Artillery, Prisoner of War; Corporal W Currie, at he Front; Private
Douglas Currie, Cameron Highlanders (Canadian Contingent); Private
Alfred Currie, Grenadier Guards; Trooper Walter Voakes,
Yorkshire Hussars; Harry Hemmingway, "Hawke", Naval
Brigade (interned in Holland); and Private Tom Kendall, 8th West
Yorks.
Claro Times – 20th February 1915
Five sons of Mrs Currie, 5 Denmark Terrace,
Harrogate, are on active service, and the sixth is a scout who is
doing duty in connection with the York and Lancaster Regiment. She
has also three sons-in-law with the colours. Corporal William
Currie joined the army about twelve years ago, and is in the
Royal Field Artillery, having been in France since the war broke
out.
Privates Arthur, Alfred, and Douglas Currie
have been in Canada several years, and the first two have joined the
Grenadier Guards, whilst Douglas has joined the Cameron
Highlanders. Alfred has already returned to England, and is
on Salisbury Plain in training. The other two are undergoing
training in Canada, and will be transported to England with the
third Canadian Contingent. All three have followed the trade of
plasterer, two being at Calgary and one at Winnipeg.
Driver Donald Currie joined the Royal Field
Artillery just a year ago, and on the outbreak of war went to France
with the First Expeditionary Force. He was reported missing on the
24th August, on the retirement from Mons, but it transpired later
that he had been taken prisoner of war, when a body of French were
taken at Maubeuge. He is now a prisoner of war at Doeberitz. Two
postcards have been received from him, and he says he is all right
and quite well, and has received the parcels sent to him.
Donald and William Currie formerly worked at
the Post Office.
Three sons-in-law of Mrs Currie are also on
active service – Private T Kendall, 8th West Yorkshires, Private W
Voakes, Yorkshire Hussars, and H Hemingway, of the Hawks Battalion,
Naval Brigade. Voakes is well known in Harrogate as a footballer,
having played for the Northern Union and the Harrogate Old Boys'
Clubs. He has done good service for the Northern Union team this
season, and was playing on Saturday, having got leave for this
purpose.
Harry Hemingway took part in the defence of Antwerp,
and was in the party who were driven across the frontier into
Holland, and is there interned.
Harrogate Herald - 25th December 1918
W H Breare letter
Then I have had in the two brothers Currie, Private
Alexander and Driver Donald. They live at 5 Denmark
Street. Alex has been twelve months out, wounded and gassed on the
28th January, 1918. This affected his voice, and he couldn't speak
for three months. Ben Smith, of Hurstleigh Terrace, was with Currie,
and Micky Brain, of Denmark Street. There were six of the Currie
boys in the Army - one, Arthur, with the Canadians, was killed April
16th; Driver Donald was taken on the 8th September, 1914, at
the fall of Manbenge. The town surrendered on the 7th September,
after ten days' bombardment. In 1914 his treatment was severe, but
better later. With him at the same camp was Second Lieutenant B
Archer, under-chef at the Hydro, and Lieutenant Frank Wilson, and
eight or nine other Harrogate boys. They were all at Mainz.
Lieutenant Colonel Bousfield, who was once in charge of the 1/6th
West Yorks, was likewise a prisoner there. At the same time as those
boys called, Private Fred Harwood, of the 29th Battalion Canadian
Infantry, came. He had been out two years and eight months, and is
the son of Mr and Mrs Harwood, engine driver for the North Eastern,
of 99 The Avenue, Starbeck. Harwood was in the Giessen camp. He was
taken at St Eloi in the battle of the craters. With Harwood was
Private W Tindale, 3rd Battalion, Toronto Regiment. He was taken
prisoner on the 24th April, 1915. Been three years and seven months
out. Captured at St Julien. Tindale was in Harrogate as a guest of
Fred Harwood
Canadian Army Attestation Papers - 19th January 1915
Front Page
1 Arthur Currie
2 Harrogate
3 Mrs C [possibly E] Currie
4 607 74a Avenue, NW Calgary
5 11 December 1886 (West Mount Street)
6 Plaster
7 Yes
8 Yes
9 No
10 7 years West Yorkshire Volunteers
1 year 5th West Yorks Territorials
11 Yes
12 Yes
Back Page
31 years 1 month
5' 7"
38"
3"
Dark
Brown
Dark Brown
C of E
Transverse scar 3/4" long across bridge of nose
CWGC
In Memory of A CURRIE Private 80112 31st Bn.,
Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regt.), who died on Saturday, 8th April
1916.
Commemorative Information
LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY, Poperinge,
West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Grave Reference/Panel Number: V. D. 34.