Canada. A Memorial Cross, Rcaf 115 (Raf) Squadron, Kia February 13, 1943

A Memorial Cross, to Flying Officer William Matthew Currie, Royal Canadian Air Force, 115 (RAF) Squadron, KIA; George VI (P.O. W.M. CURRIE J22532). Naming is engraved. In sterling silver, 925 silver standard marked and marked "STERLING" on the reverse, on a full-length neck ribbon, contact marks, very fine. Accompanied by its Minister of National Defence, Government of Canada Memorial Card, in its hardshelled case of issue with pebbled exterior and bearing the Royal crown, placed within its cardboard shipping container.

Footnote: William Matthew Currie was born on June 25, 1918 in Calgary, Alberta, the son of Matthew Currie and Agnes Currie, and was their only child. He attended Normal Practice and Crescent Heights high schools in Calgary, was a member of the Gamma Zeta Rho society and enjoyed skating, hockey, rugby, track, golf and swimming. Currie was employed as a Stock Keeper in the Stock Department of the Hudson's Bay Company in Calgary when he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force (J22532) on July 3, 1942 at Calgary, stating that he had previous service as a Gunner in the 2/91st Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, Canadian Army (Reserve), that he was Single and that his trade was that of Stock Keeper. His cousin, William Matthew Livingstone of Calgary, had formerly served with Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. Currie did his RCAF training at Regina and Mossbank in Saskatchewan, and at Rivers, Manitoba. Upon completion of his Canadian training, he was sent overseas.

In England, he was assigned as a Bomb Aimer (Bombardier) and attached to 115 (RAF) Squadron at RAF East Wretham in Kent. The Squadron's missions were directed at targets in Germany, including Bremen, Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Munich, in Italy at Turin, as well as mine laying in the French ports of LeHavre, Brest, St. Nazaire, and Lorient, along with the Bay of Biscay. Currie was aboard a Vickers Wellington bomber (BK 166) flying out of RAF East Wretham, when the aircraft went missing from a night trip to Lorient, France. J/22532 Flying Officer William Matthew Currie, Royal Canadian Air Force, 115 (RAF) Squadron was Killed in Action on February 13, 1943, at the age of 24. Three of the crew, who were not Canadians, were also killed. Currie is buried in Guidal Communal Cemetery in Morbihan, France, Grave Reference: Row 5. Grave 8. Guidel is a village in the Department of the Morbihan, sixty kilometres west-north-west of Vannes, the chief town of the Department, and ten kilometres north-west of Lorient. It lies two kilometres off the Lorien-Quimperle Road. The cemetery is on the north-eastern side of the village on the road to Gestel, opposite a market square. Currie is also commemorated on page 150 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance and on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, Alberta. For his Second World War service, Flying Officer Currie was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Air Crew Europe Star, the War Medal 1939-1945 and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp. He was awarded his Operational Wings posthumously on March 5, 1947.