The Moose Jaw armoury building would likely not be named after David Currie if it weren’t for the former Moose Javian’s heroic exploits during the Second World War.
Seventy-five years ago on Aug. 20, 1944, Maj. David Currie won the Victoria Cross — the highest military medal in the British Empire — for leading his troops into battle against overwhelming odds.
Currie was in command of a small mixed force of Canadian tanks, infantry and self-propelled anti-tank guns on Aug. 18, 1944 when he was ordered to cut off one of the main routes the German army was using to escape from the Falaise Pocket in France.
According to Currie’s Victoria Cross citation, the Canadian force was held up by strong enemy resistance in the village of St. Lambert-sur-Dives, with Germany artillery knocking out two Canadian tanks. Currie entered the village on foot and rescued the tank crews under heavy mortar fire while also checking out enemy defences.
The next morning, Currie led an attack on the village in the face of fierce enemy opposition. By noon, he had seized and consolidated a position halfway inside the village. During the next 36 hours, the Germans hurled one counterattack after another against the Canadian defences, but Currie had skillfully organized his defensive position and repulsed the attacks.
At one point, Currie single-handedly knocked out a massive German Tiger tank, a most feared machine on the battlefield.
At dusk on Aug. 20, the Germans launched one final assault on the Canadian positions but were routed. Seven enemy tanks, 12 heavy artillery guns and 40 vehicles were destroyed; 300 Germans were killed, 500 wounded and 2,100 captured.
Currie then captured the rest of the village and closed the escape route for the remnants of two German armies. By sealing the exit, Currie brought the Battle of Normandy to an end after three months of fighting.
“Throughout three days and nights of fierce fighting, Major Currie’s gallant conduct and contempt for danger set a magnificent example to all ranks of the force under his command,” his citation added.
Moose Jaw armoury
The Saskatchewan Dragoons’ Sgt. Steve Cox, a media spokesman at the Lt.-Col. D.V. Currie VC Armoury, thought it was neat how Currie’s exploits were being remembered 75 years later.
“It’s incredible,” Cox said, especially since Currie had a smaller force. “He took on damn near two squadrons of Germans. The thought that he could organize all that chaos and hold onto that town is (also) incredible. It shows true calmness in all that action and true leadership.
“Every member of the Saskatchewan Dragoons is proud to have his name on the building.”
The Dragoons did not have an event planned on Aug. 20 to commemorate Currie’s Victoria Cross accomplishment. However, when the unit gets back together on Sept. 4 after the summer break, the commanding officer will likely talk about how Currie won the medal 75 years ago.
Currie was born on July 8, 1912 in Sutherland, Saskatoon — now a neighbourhood, but considered a separate community back then — and was the son of a Canadian Pacific Railway engineer. His family moved to Moose Jaw in 1913, where he completed high school.
The armoury building was named in Currie’s honour in 1986 during a dedication ceremony. He died on June 20, 1986.
Upstairs in the Sergeants’ and Officers’ Mess Room, a frame hangs on the wall honouring three soldiers — including Currie — from the First and Second World wars who won the Victoria Cross. Not only does the frame boost morale, Cox said, but it also shows officers the potential of what can be done on the battlefield.
“Training, when applied correctly, can save the day,” he added. “Although we’re very far from a world war, it shows good leadership qualities, combined with knowledge and training, can turn any situation in your favour.”
