Arthur Currie

Profession: Military Commander

Nationality:

Biography: Often considered Canada's greatest military commander, Arthur Currie worked his way up from the lowest ranks of the army to become the first Canadian commander of the Canadian Corps.

Joining the war in 1914, Currie landed in France in 1915. He served as a Brigade Commander during the Second Battle of Ypres and captured Vimy Ridge during the Battle of Arras. Appointed Commander of the Canadian Corps in 1917 he was also knighted by King George V that year. He led troops in the Battle of Hill 70 and the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917.

Currie led his Canadian troops through the Hundred Days Offensive that ended WWI, the Canadian forces often spearheading the attacks. They successfully attacked the Drocourt–Quéant Line on the Hindenburg Line in September 1918 and chased the German Seventeenth Army in retreat until armistice was declared.

Post-war Currie became a well-regarded principal and vice-chancellor of McGill University. His funeral, after his early death in 1933, was the largest Canada had ever seen with a procession and a 17-gun salute.

Born: December 5, 1875
Birthplace: Napperton, Ontario, Canada
Star Sign: Sagittarius

Died: November 30, 1933 (aged 57)