Currie favoured
Sin In a letter in your 29 November issue (which has just reached Canada) Patrick Scrivenor, who describes himself as editor of a history of the first world war, remarks that 'with the honourable exceptions of Plumer and Allenby it is difficult to find one great war general who answers to the adjective "intelligent": While it is difficult for anyone who knows anything about World War I to disagree with the low opinion of the general staff, there was one general who is consistently overlooked and underrated when it comes to intelligence and compassion and ability — three characteristics that are not always found in senior officers, even today.
The exception was General Sir Arthur Currie, commander of the Canadian Corps. Currie was held in universal affection by his troops and was esteemed by his fellow generals, even though he had little respect for any of them (except Plumer) and considered most of them butchers. Being from a country with a small population Currie could not afford to waste manpower, and forever sought to balance the odds in favour of his troops.
If historians care to dig into his record they will find he bore the nickname 'Barrage' Currie because of his insistence that there be adequate firepower and artillery support to protect his manpower. He was an unconventional soldier whose aim, repeatedly stated, was to beat the enemy with the least sacrifice of his men. He ran foul of British command because of his refusal to commit his troops piecemeal or without adequate preparation. He won the respect of British high command because his troops were successful. There is evidence of a British press campaign to downgrade and degenerate Canadian troops' actions in the last hundred days because of jealousy.
In a speech to the Canadian Club after his return from the war he noted: 'In the last hundred days, the Canadian Corps met and decisively defeated 47 different German divisions. Of these 47, 17 that had been pulled out of the line and rested, making a grand total of 64 fresh divisions.'
The affection and trust with which he was regarded by his troops, and the admonishment of Stonewall Jackson of American Civl War fame that 'no army ever achieved great things unless it has been well commanded,' are testimony to Sir Arthur Currie, who escapes the epithet of 'donkey' often ascribed to the igenerals of the great war. Peter Worthington The Toronto Sun, 333 King Street East, Toronto, Canada
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