David Vivien Currie
Major (later Lieutenant-Colonel), 29th Canadian Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment. Canadian Armoured Corps. (the South Alberta Regiment)
- Register No.
- 290 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Major (later Lieutenant-Colonel) (register: Major) all Majors →
- Unit
- 29th Canadian Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment. Canadian Armoured Corps. (the South Alberta Regiment) all South Alberta Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 18–20 August 1944 on this day → all of 1944 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- : 27th November, 1944 on this day → all of 1944 →
- Born
- 8th July 1912 at Sutherland, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Died
- 24th June 1986 at Ottawa, Canada
- Memorial / grave
- Greenwood cemetery, Owen Sound , Ontario
Digest of citation
During the period 18th/20th August, 1944 at the Battle of Falaise, Normandy, Major Currie was in command of a small mixed force of tanks, self-propelled anti-tank guns and infantry which had been ordered to cut one of the main escape routes. Having attacked the village of St. Lambert-sur-Dives and consolidated a position halfway inside it, for 36 hours he repulsed repeated enemy attacks. Despite heavy casualties Major Currie never considered the possibility of failure and in the final assault seven enemy tanks 12, 88 mm guns and 40 vehicles were destroyed, 300 Germans were killed, 500 wounded and 1,100 captured.. The remnants of two German armies were thus denied this escape route
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CURRIE, David Vivien. (reg No. 290).
Major (later Lieutenant-Colonel) 29th Canadian Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment. Canadian Armoured Corps. (the South Alberta Regiment)
Gazetted: 27th November, 1944.
Born on 8th July 1912 at Sutherland, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Died on 24th June 1986 at Ottawa, Canada.
Memorial at Greenwood cemetery, Owen Sound , Ontario.
Digest of Citation reads: During the period 18th/20th August, 1944 at the Battle of Falaise, Normandy, Major Currie was in command of a small mixed force of tanks, self-propelled anti-tank guns and infantry which had been ordered to cut one of the main escape routes. Having attacked the village of St. Lambert-sur-Dives and consolidated a position halfway inside it, for 36 hours he repulsed repeated enemy attacks. Despite heavy casualties Major Currie never considered the possibility of failure and in the final assault seven enemy tanks 12, 88 mm guns and 40 vehicles were destroyed, 300 Germans were killed, 500 wounded and 1,100 captured.. The remnants of two German armies were thus denied this escape route Additional information: He was the vice chairman of the VC and GC Association from 1968-86 (Overseas) he also served as Sergeant at Arms of the House of Commons in Ottawa until 1979.
Additional information
He was the vice chairman of the VC and GC Association from 1968-86 (Overseas) he also served as Sergeant at Arms of the House of Commons in Ottawa until 1979.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Greenwood cemetery, Owen Sound , Ontario
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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