Currie, Charles

Private Charles Simpson Currie.

Highland Light Infantry (attached Black Watch)

1918 - November 20.

On Saturday, 9th November 1918, Private CHARLES SIMPSON CURRIE, third son of Thomas Currie, Inspector of Tweed Police, Dalwoodie, Haystoun Place, Peebles, arrived home on leave. While on the journey from France he had contracted a slight cold. This gradually became worse, and on the forenoon of Monday, 11th November - just

when the joybells were ringing for the signing of the Armistice - he went back to bed. His illness was found to have developed into pleuro-pneumonia, and notwithstanding unremitting care and attention, he was unable to throw it off, and died on the 20th November, aged 20 years. He was very ill and delirious for about a week before he died, and while in that condition his mind was almost wholly taken up with his work in France, speaking to his mates, working his horses, &c, &c, yet in all his wanderings he never made use of any expression which the fondest mother might not hear without a blush. He refused brandy from the doctor, on the ground that he was teetotal and had never once taken his rum-ration while in France. His parents felt proud and profoundly thankful that their boy could have spent over four years in the Army and remain thus pure in word and in deed. It said much for him and much for the British Army of to-day as he found it.

Private Currie was born at St Boswells, Roxburghshire, on the 13th August 1898, and came with his parents to Peebles while quite young.

He joined the 2/8th Royal Scots on 22nd October 1914, at the age of 16. He trained at Haddington, Peebles, Falkirk, and Chelmsford, till September 1916, when he went out, with a draft, to France, where he was transferred to the Highland Light Infantry, and was latterly attached to the 9th Black Watch. He had two years and two months service in France, and was on his second leave when he died.

Private Currie was well known for his prowess as an Association football player, and great things were predicted of him in that line had he been spared. He was a constant playing member of the 2/8th Royal Scots football team, which had so many successes in Scotland and England, before he was drafted to France, though he was only a

boy at the time - 16 to 18 years of age.

"I have just received a letter from mother to-day. In it she tells me about Charlie's death. I cannot realise that my dear old school chum has gone to rest; it sounds like a dream, but it only shows what a short time it is to us all. I cannot express to you my feelings at the loss of my dear old chum. As I sit here pondering", it seems but yesterday when we were together in all our boyhood rambles. We were great pals, and I feel as if I had lost a brother."

"I need hardly say what a loss he must be to you, as he is to me. I leaned on Charles as the manliest boy I had on the Transport.

He was a splendid worker, and his team of black horses was always a show. The whole of the Transport misses him, as he was always very popular with them all."

Private Currie's funeral took place with military honours to Peebles Cemetery on the 23rd November. The funeral was headed by the pipe band of the Peebles Company of the 7th Volunteer Battalion The Royal Scots, and from the same source pall-bearers and firing party were also provided.  Following the cortege, in addition to the Volunteers, were a large number of the general public, while the local branch of the Discharged Soldiers' Federation, as well as the local Boy Scouts, were also represented. En route to the place of interment large numbers witnessed the solemn procession, and many were visibly affected as the mournful strains of "The Land o' the Leal" told of

the "wearin' awa" of one brave soul who had been denied the enjoyment of the earthly peace his own efforts had done much to bring about. On the coffin, which was covered with the Union Jack, there rested a number of beautiful floral tributes, as well as the cap and bayonet of the gallant lad.

At the Cemetery, the committal service was conducted by the Rev. Thomas Martin, D.D., after which three volleys were fired over the open grave, these being punctuated with the wail of the pipes playing " Lochaber no More," and followed by the sounding of "The Last Post" on the bugle. Thus, with these solemn and impressive proceedings, was Charlie Currie, Private, Black Watch, laid to his rest in a hero's grave, far from the bloody field of battle where he had achieved the great glory that was his, his duty well and nobly done, his victory won.

Other two brothers served with the Colours - Tom, in the American Army, and William, in the 1/8th Royal Scots in France.

And you, to whom it was not given

To die upon the foughten field,

Yes, you full equally have striven,

For you your life did yield

As nobly as the men who fell

There, in the blazing mouth of hell.

Not in the wild rush of the fight

God saw it meet for you to die.

Yet he who keeps his armour bright

I lis Lord doth magnify.

You answered equally the call,

And he who gives himself gives all.

True Till Death

Yet we are proud because at last, at last

We look upon the dawn of our desire;

Because the weary waiting-time is passed

And we have tried our temper in the fire;

And proving word by deed

Have kept the faith we pledged to France at need.

But most because, from mine and desk and mart,

Springing to face a task undreamed before,

Our men, inspired to play their prentice part

Like soldiers lessoned in the school of war,

True to their breed and name,

Went flawless through the fierce baptismal flame.

And he who brought these armies into life,

And on them set the impress of his will

Could he be moved by sound of mortal strife,

There where he lies, their Captain, cold and still

Under the shrouding tide,

How would his great heart stir and glow with pride!

Source: The Book of Remembrance for Tweeddale – Peebles Book 2 - Pages 300 to 303

Name: CURRIE, CHARLES SIMPSON

Initials: C S

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry

Unit Text: 10th/11th Bn.

Age: 20

Date of Death: 20/11/1918

Service No: 40187

Additional information: Son of Thomas and Alice Currie, of Haystoun Place, Spring Hill Rd, Peebles.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: 2830.

Cemetery: PEEBLES CEMETERY