The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (430014) Flight Sergeant Alan Livingstone Currie, No. 27 Operational Training, Royal Air Force, Second World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (430014) Flight Sergeant Alan Livingstone Currie, No. 27 Operational Training, Royal Air Force, Second World War.

430014 Flight Sergeant Alan Livingstone Currie, No. 27 Operational Training, Royal Air Force
Accidentally killed 6 September 1944
No photograph in collection – supplied by family

Story delivered 2 December 2015

Today we pay tribute to Flight Sergeant Alan Livingstone Currie, who was killed on active service with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

Born in the Melbourne suburb of Newport on 20 September 1923, Alan Currie was the son of James Livingstone Currie and Elsie Currie. Growing up in Williamstown, Alan attended North Williamstown State School and Williamstown High School. A keen sportsman, he could often be found playing football with his brother or, in the warmer months, diving at Williamstown beach.

On leaving school Currie worked as a clerk before enlisting in the Royal Australian Air Force in December 1942. He began training as a pilot and later embarked for overseas service. His journey took him to San Francisco, where he travelled across the United States to New York and then on to Britain. As part of the Empire Air Training Scheme, Currie was one of almost 27,500 RAAF pilots, navigators, wireless operators, gunners, and engineers who joined squadrons based in Britain throughout the course of the war.

In Britain Currie undertook further specialist training with No. 27 Operational Training Unit of the Royal Air Force. On the night of 5 September 1944 Currie and his all Australian crew were undertaking a night-time cross-country training exercise in a twin-engine Vickers Wellington medium bomber. During the flight one of the aircraft’s engines ceased to function. Currie brought the plane back to base but overshot on the first approach to the runway. He attempted to go round again, but the Wellington yawed violently and crashed near the airfield, erupting into flames.

Currie and fellow crewmate Reginald Groves were both killed in the crash.

Currie was 20 years old. His body was recovered and is buried in the British and Commonwealth War Cemetery for RAF crew at Botley in Oxford, England.

His name is listed here on the Roll of Honour on my left, among the names of some 40,000 Australians who died serving in the Second World War. His photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection. He is pictured with his mother, Elsie, and younger brother Roy.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Flight Sergeant Alan Livingstone Currie, and all of those Australians – as well as our Allies and brothers in arms – who gave their lives in the hope of a better world.

Dr Lachlan Grant
Historian, Military History Section