Topic: Thomas Edward Currie
Topic type:
Thomas Edward Currie (Service no. 7/321) is a First World War soldier with links to St. Augustine's Anglican Church, Cashmere.
Thomas Edward Currie was born in Christchurch on 28th April, 1886. He was the second son of Archibald and Amelia Currie, who lived at 352 Colombo St, and then on Hackthorne Rd, Cashmere. Archibald was a printer.
Thomas went to Christchurch Normal School, then Christchurch Boys’ High School. While there, he was known as a good sportsman, playing in the school’s first XV in rugby, and the first XI in cricket. He excelled in high jump and hurdles. As a scholar he did well, winning prizes in French, English and Greek. He was also involved in drama and was captain of the school cadets.
He then went on to study engineering at Canterbury College. While there, he represented his university in debating at Easter tournaments.
After university, he went to Argentina to manage a ranch. He returned to Christchurch a short time before the First World War broke out, intending to then head across to England to study to be a minister in South America. He was an Anglican, and a very popular young man. He was 6 foot 3”, with dark brown hair, and brown eyes.
When war was declared, he was one of the first to join up. He was 28. He joined the Canterbury Mounted Rifles, leaving New Zealand on 16th October, reaching Egypt about 7 weeks later.
He fought at Gallipoli. On 16th July, 1915, he was wounded, with a broken leg and pelvis. He was evacuated from Gallipoli on the hospital ship HMHS Sicilia, but sadly died of his wounds on the 22nd July.
He was buried at sea.
His name is on the Lone Pine Memorial in Turkey, the Roll of Honour board at St Augustine’s Anglican Church, Cashmere, and the plaque at College House.
He was posthumously awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His brother, Donald Eric Currie, who served with the New Zealand Field Ambulance, survived the war.
Related Resources
- Online cenotaph record for Thomas Edward Currie, Auckland War Memorial Museum
- Thomas Currie's military personnel file. Archives New Zealand (Archway)
- Ancestry Library Edition :New Zealand Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981
References
- News of the Day. Press, Volume LV, Issue 10206, 30 November 1898, Page 4
- Boys' High School Sports. Press, Volume LXI, Issue 12014, 15 October 1904, Page 3
- Boys' High School. Press, Volume LXI, Issue 12067, 16 December 1904, Page 9
- University Tournament. Star , Issue 9208, 10 April 1908, Page 3
- War in the Air. Sun, Volume II, Issue 461, 2 August 1915, Page 10
- The Fallen and Wounded.Press, Volume LI, Issue 15349, 5 August 1915, Page 10
- The Fallen and Wounded. Press, Volume LI, Issue 15388, 20 September 1915, Page 10
- College House. Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17494, 30 June 1922, Page 7
