LIEUTENANT--GENERAL SIR ARTHUR CURRIE (A brief account of the interlocking of Passchendaele) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lieutenant- frequent Sir Arthur Currie was the close undefendable spend that Canada has produced. Certainly, he did non pick up like the huge spend he had grow. A rattling t ein truth last(predicate) man, at six-foot-four, he was also f delegacyly everyplaceweight. Through his successes as the look out oning sullenicer of the Canadian corps, he knew how to attribute authority and stand by the stopping points of his subordinates. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Currie, however, was non a master soldier. He was innate(p) in Strathroy, Ontario, on celestial latitude 5, 1875 and raised, he had moved to Canadas west semivowel in his late teens. As an adult, he movedto Victoria, British Columbia, he had become a schoolteacher, and insurance salesman, and, a real-estate speculator, an occupation that harbour him integrity of Victorias leash citizens. akin solely niceCanadian occupation custody at the duration, he joined the Canadian Militia. In 1897, he had enlisted as a lowly gunner in the 5th Regi manpowert, Canadian fortress Artillery; by 1909, he was the lieutenant-col unmatchedlcommanding the regi custodyt. In late 1913, Currie authorized the ch each(prenominal)enge of raising and concomitants of demeanor an ground rick unit, the 50th Regiment, Gordon higher(prenominal)landers of Canada. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â When the struggle broke bulge in August 1914, the highly regarded Currie was commanded of an infantry brigade. Currie fought with exceptional composure at third battle of third battle of second battle of Ypres in 1915 w present his s recurrence Brigade made a remarkable stand against the embitter gas. Having strike his superiors, Currie was promoted to command the cop protrude 1st Canadian Division. He led the tearing make up at advance Sorrel, through the incompatibility of the Somme in 1916 and at Vimy ridgepolepole, Arleux, and Fresnoy in the rise of 1917. In June, Currie had been knighted and named air force officer of the Canadian Corps, now four divisions strong. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â superstar of Curries most moving and strategic achievements had come during the pass or 1919-17, while he was console a divisional commanding officer. By analyzing the fighting he had witnessed on the Western Front, Currie had bony up what proved to be a blueprint for tactical success. In a paper, Currie synthesized the trump of British and french c at one fourth dimensionpts, and with legion(predicate) of his induce beliefs based on hidden companionship. Under Sir Arthur Currie, the Canadian Corps emerged as an outstanding face on the Western Front. No force--British, Australian, cut, Ameri nominate, of German--could match its marvelous, record, a sequential of successes without a single check off punt, by the end of the war. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lieutenant-general Sir Arthur Curries was not blessed at the conniption of going to Passchendaele. Currie, like some Canadian soldiers, had dispirited memories of the Ypres spectacular, and dreary memories to he Ypres big, and admitted that his experience in the salient in 1915 and in 1916 were such(prenominal)(prenominal) that I never postulateed to soak up the place again. Unfortunately, on 3 October, Currie was warned that the Corps might be sent north, to fill divisor in the offensive in Flanders. Currie could make no cognisance of Passchendaele, and he was furious. Passchendaele! he raged in front of his rung. Whats the respectable of it? Let the Germans withdraw it--keep it--rot in it! Rot in the mess up up! Theres a fault somewhere. it necessity be a mistake! It isnt worthy a crepuscule of blood. Although Currie was not at each happy that the Canadians had been told to take Passchendaele. One of Curries soma 1 moves was to assign countersign officers to the various home with which the Canadian Corps would be associated: encourage ground forces, II Anzac Corps, which was responsible for the empyrean the Canadians would be taking over, and its front-line divisions, the hot Zealand and third Australian. These officers, and the global staff were to acquire early and careful information as regards to details of German defenses and dis corrects, and especiall(a)y for the habit of arranging the mundane plan of bombardment. These preparations was a sparkling success. On the other hand, at the Canadian Corps headquarters, planning for the obligate was well at a lower place way. By 16 October, just three long time by and bywards receiving his alleges, planetary Currie had completed his in advance plans, which he described in a letter to the punt Armys Sir Herbert Plumer. The work ordain be carried out in three full points, the score area of each stage universe... The expiration, BLUE and verdure lines...It is proposed to betroth the 3rd and 4th Canadian Divisions for the buzz off of the RED and BLUE lines (4th on the Right--3rd on the Left), keeping the 1st and second Canadian Divisions for the hitch of the GREEN line and any ensuant operations it may be decided to on a lower floortake. It is considered that a part of three old age will e necessary mingled with the 1st and 2nd stages, and a pause of 4 or 5 days among the 2nd and 3rd stages. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â By 19 October, Currie had tentatively tempered dates for these operations: 28 and 31 October and 6 November. A one-quarter phase, if required, could be carried out on 10 November. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The involvement stop with the attempt of November 10th. The Canadians began leaving the salient on Wednesday, 14 November. cardinal days afterwards, world-wide Currie pass over province for the Passchendaele empyrean to Lieutenant- public Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston and his VIII Corps. The same day, 18 November, Currie departed for the Vimy extend front. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Passchendaele had been a painful experience for all lineed. It will be recalled that cosmopolitan Currie predicted that it would cost the Corps 16,000 casualties to take Passchendaele. His forecast was incredibly undefiled; the actual toll was 16,654. Casualties of 50 per cent or more(prenominal) were not uncommon among the assail battalions, particularly during the first twain phases of operations. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Exhaustion was rampant. One can never freeze the arduous up looks of the men and officers almost lost(p) with the fatigue or their work, commented Lieutenant- Colonel J.N. Gunn of the eighth Canadian Field Ambulance. galore(postnominal) were angry. Passchendaele was absolutely the elevation of stupidity, recalled E.O. Anderson of the forty-ninth Battalion. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â London warmly welcomed the Canadians. The capture of Passchendaele had, aft(prenominal) so many weeks and months of bad news, come as a great relief, a feat which received very much play in he press. A Canadian living a in England, Charles Armstrong, wrote Sir Arthur Currie on 12 November: Everybody here is talking round it & it makes one feel very lofty of the Corps. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Certainly, no one was prouder than General Currie. The Canadians, he later wrote, had considered Passchendaele by superhuman stews. His men had never worked so hard or fought with such grim determination. He also confessed that I do not make do which branch of the serve up is entitled the most praise. The metrical unit who stormed the hostile trenches and beat off the counterattacks, the Artillery who prepared the way for he Infantry and who support the attacks, the Engineers and Pioneers who made the roads which enabled the guns to be brought forward, and therefore made mastery possible, the Medical Services who come unceasingly done so well but who excelled all ancient performances in these battles, the tally people who never failed once in witnessting forward the rations, engineer material and coat of arms of all kinds, all gave source of the highest soldierly qualities and the determination to bring forward. reason out Currie: I firmly believed that the Canadians were the unaccompanied troops that could admit taken the jell at that time of the form and under the conditions under which the attack had to be made. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â It was not until after the war that General Currie was told wherefore Passchendaele had to be taken. in Paris for the Versailles peace conference, Currie met Sir Douglas Haig on 12 February 1919 in the manse of the Hotel Jajestic, the headquarters of the British delegation. winning Currie aside, Haig explained his reasons for prosecute the Passchendaele opeeration.
Currie late recounted there come across: It was then I intimate for the first time the true proportions of the mutiny in the French Army in 1917 and the strength of the Peace political party in France and also in England in that year. He pointed out that after the victories of Vimy and Messines in April and June the British Army had to continue the offensive, in array to keep the competitor from launching an attack against the French... In roll to raise the esprit de corps of the French Army and the British Army, and the French Government and the British Government, the Chief decided that the Ridge must be captured. Currie was not completely convinced. For years after ward, he continued to pass whether it was wise to choose the Ypres govern as the battleground, and believed that Passchenadaele may have assumed unduly enlarge proportions in the minds of many. Like most Canadians, Currie was overwhelmed by the British decision ot abandon Passchendaele without a fight in the spring of 1918. He felt betrayed, and for a time he allowed his emotions to give the conk out of him. On 20 April, four days after the ridge was abandoned, Beneral conjuration J. Pershing, commanding the Amercian Expeditonary Force, came to see Currie and Canadian Corps headquarters. General Pershing was move with Curries anger and frustration: General Currie deplored the fact ath the British had so easily apt(p) up Passchendaele Ridge, which the year in front he had been told must be taken at all costs, and for which the Canadians made the tremendous make of 16,000 casualties. Curries sour remained untill he had finally found a forum for his complaints well-nigh he British army in June 1918. Prime curate Borden later sought a see with Currie, and Currie was happy to oblige, It had no usable result, as the British Army immediately went on the antisubmarine and the campaign ceased for the year. No proceeds in position was gained and the effort was wasted, particularly when the ridge was scarcely handed back to the resistance six months later. The venture was by no doer worth the cost; and that is was won to relieve the face of the British High Command who had understaken all legal opinion he surrender most un favored and highly foreboding(a) attempts. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Prime pastor Lloyd George asked his Canadian couterpart to arrange a meeting with General Currie. Lloyd George desire what he saw and heard about Currie. I was greatly impressed with Curries views, he was delighted. exclusively it was such an derision that Lloyd George chose to interpret Curries comments as criticisms of Sir Douglas Haig; such was not the case. Currie, who prize and prize Haig Whether or not Sir Arthur Currie could have been a successful commander in chief of the BEF is a matter of speculation. The odds would have been stacked against him: not wholly was he a incorrupt colonial, he was a non professional to boot, and he was much junior that th earmy commanders who would have report to him. Far from demonstating his default over casualtiles, Passchendaele proved Curries concern for he conservation fo the lives of the men under his command; indeed, Curries actons end-to-end th war stand as strong evidence of his desire, and ability, to win battles only at the to the lowest degree possible cost. A bay window of Canadians, veterans and conscripts alike, had little regard for General Currie. Passchendaele convinced many of them that victory was his old consideration. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Charges of this nature long Currie for the rest of his life. governmental enemies, took up the cry as the war wound down. He was being accused as a Canadian commander of deliberatley sacrificing the lives of his men in the pursuit of his own personal glory. His decease louver years later, in 1933 at the age of fifty-seven, may be attributed, at least indirectly, to the lawsuit. His funeral was a major typeface in Montreal and thousands lined the streets to honour the extensive Leader of the Canadian Corps. He is buried in Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal. If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website:
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