Currie, John Eugene Havelock

Details
Category: 1915-16

John Eugene Havelock Currie

nurse

1st Batt. Royal Scots Fusiliers
He is remembered with honour on the Scottish National War Memorial, Glasgow University Roll of Honour, the Le Touret Memorial and the Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 1 Line 15. John was awarded the D.C.M. for 'great gallantry and devotion to duty'

The family home was at 84 Springkell Avenue, Pollockshields, Glasgow
The son of Cecil Charles David Currie (wine merchant) and Mary Jane Watson Currie.
Siblings: Two younger sisters, Alice and Marion.

John Currie was born at Burnside Cottage, Helensburgh and later moved with the family to Glasgow, where his father was a wine merchant. He came from a military family. He was educated at The High School of Glasgow and studied Chemistry at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College (later Strathclyde University). He was a member of the Cadet Corps at school and the O.T.C. at university. He worked as an analytical chemist with Messrs Alex Ferguson and Co. in Maryhill.

At the outbreak of war, he was offered a commission but due to delay he enlisted as a private with the 5th Cameron Highlanders and was then gazetted to the Royal Scots Fusiliers. He served with the 8th, 3rd and 1st Battalions and deployed to France in July 1915.

John was shot whilst leading a working party attempting to cut a path through the woods to the enemy lines. He was buried at Sanctuary Wood, but this cemetery was later damaged during fighting. He is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial. John was awarded the D.C.M. for 'great gallantry and devotion to duty'.