David Vivian Currie
| David Vivian Currie | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 8 July 1912 Sutherland, Saskatchewan |
| Died | 20 June 1986 (aged 73) Ottawa |
| Allegiance |
 Canada
|
| Service/branch | Canadian Army |
| Years of service | 1939 – 1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | The South Alberta Regiment |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
David Vivian Currie, VC, CD (8 July 1912 – 20 June 1986), was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Born in Sutherland, Saskatchewan, Currie was educated at King George Public School, the Central Collegiate and Moose Jaw Technical School. He was trained as an automobile mechanic and welder.
In 1939 he joined the militia, before joining the Regular Army the following year. He was commissioned as a lieutenant shortly afterwards, before being promoted to captain in 1941. By 1944 he had reached the rank of major.
Currie was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in command of a battle group of tanks from The South Alberta Regiment, artillery, and infantry of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada at St. Lambert-sur-Dives, during the final actions to close the Falaise Gap. This was the only Victoria Cross awarded to a Canadian soldier during the Normandy campaign (6 June 1944 through to the end of August 1944), and the only VC ever awarded to a member of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps.
The then 32 year-old Currie was a Major in The South Alberta Regiment, Canadian Army during the Second World War. During the Battle of Falaise, Normandy, between 18–20 August 1944, Currie was in command of a small mixed force of tanks, self-propelled anti-tank guns and infantry which had been ordered to cut off one of the Germans' main escape routes.
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