Strathroy - Sir Arthur Currie Monument

 

Location:  Middlesex County     N 42.95630   W -81.62427

In front of the Strathroy Library and Museum, 34 Frank Street.

 

The following description is taken from the "www.veterans.gc.ca" website, 

"The memorial, consisting of an inscribed granite base and a life-sized bronze figure of General Sir Arthur Currie, was sculpted by artist Adrienne Alison.  The Sir Arthur Currie Memorial Project unveiled the life-size bronze statue of the famous First World War General on August 4, 2014. The event included a cadet parade, band performances, military re-enactor demonstrations and the participation of a number of distinguished guests, project supporters, and descendants of General Sir Arthur Currie.

Currie was born just outside of Strathroy, and became the first Canadian commander of the Canadian Corps in the First World War. The project was paid for entirely through fund-raising efforts through private donations, corporate sponsorships, numerous community organizations, Veterans Affairs Canada and the Army Cadet League of Canada.

A travelling exhibit highlighting the extraordinary life and military career of  Sir Arthur Currie is on display at Museum Strathroy-Caradoc. The exhibit considers the influence of his youth on his remarkable rise through the ranks from a militia gunner before the First World War to becoming the first Canadian commander of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Highlights of the display include a battlefield model demonstrating Currie’s use of the creeping barrage tactic, a restored German machine gun captured at the Battle of Amiens, and items related to a soldier’s experience in the trenches on the front line. There are also numerous artifacts and photographs that trace the humble roots of Canada’s greatest military commander."

 

 

 

 

Marker text:

Front:

THIS STATUE HONOURS THE
VALOUR AND SACRIFICE OF ALL
CANADIANS WHO SERVED IN THE
GREAT WAR, 1914 - 1918.
ERECTED IN MEMORY OF
GENERAL SIR ARTHUR WILLIAM CURRIE,
GCMG, KCB, VD.
GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING
THE CANADIAN CORPS FROM 1917 - 1919

Back:
CETTE STATUE HONDRE
TOUS LES CANADIENS QUI ONT SERVI
AVEC VAILLANCE ET DEVOUEMENT DANS
LA GRANDE GUERRE DE 1914-1918.
ÉRIGÉE À LA MÉMOIRE DU
GÉNÉRAL SIR ARTHUR WILLIAM CURRIE.
GCMG, KCB, VD.
OFFICIER GÉNÉRAL COMMANDANT
DU CORPS CANANDIEN DE 1917 À 1919

Adrienne Adison 2014