BRIGADIER GENERAL H.P. CURREY, C.B.E., ROYAL IRISH RIFLES, ROYAL ULSTER RIFLES AND STAFF (LATE 55TH COKES RIFLES, INDIAN ARMY), COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE 2ND BATTALION ROYAL ULSTER RIFLES 1929-1933. Eight: C.B.E., silver-gilt and enamel India General Service Medal 1908, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (officially engraved, Lieutenant, 55th Rifles) British War Medal (Major) 1939-45 Star, Defence and War Medals, War Medal with M.I.D. oakleaf on ribbon 1935 Silver Jubliee Medal 1937 Coronation Medal. C.B.E. in original case of issue, other medals court mounted, as worn, generally Almost Extremely Fine and with a matching set of miniatures.
Henry Percival Currey, born 30th January 1886, was first commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 5th August 1905, Unattached List. He transferred to the Indian Army on 24th October 1906, being appointed 2nd Lieutenant, 55th Coke's Rifles (Frontier Force) on 1st November 1907, and was subsequently promoted Lieutenant 5th November 1907 and Captain 5th August 1914. Currey transferred back to the British Army in 1916, being appointed General Staff Officer 3rd grade, 1st March 1916, and advanced to General Staff Officer, 2nd grade, HQ Staff, Department of Military Training, 1st July 1917. During the latter period, Currey was also appointed Captain, Royal Irish Rifles, 12th May 1916. Subsequently he was promoted Temporary Major, 25th February 1918, Brevet Major, 3rd June 1918, Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles, 22nd March 1929, and Colonel, 22nd March 1933. When war broke out in September 1939 Currey was serving on the Staff with the local rank of Brigadier General, and by the time the October 1940 Army List had been published (corrected to 25th September 1940) he had the rank of Acting Brigadier General. He was appointed Honorary Brigadier on 21st December 1944. Curreys C.B.E. was announced in the Birthday Honours list of 1944. His retirement was announced in the London Gazette of 9/3/1945.
Currey first saw active service on the North West Frontier of India during the 1908 Mohmand Expedition, including the action at Kargha (awarded medal and clasp). During WW1 he continued to serve in India, in the Tochi Valley and Derajat (awarded British War Medal and promoted Brevet Major). During his period commanding the Royal Ulster Rifles, 22nd March 1929 to 21st March 1933, the regiment was initially stationed at Poona in India. Whilst there, on the afternoon of 10th May 1930, following the arrest of Gandhi, the battalion was ordered to Sholapur, where martial law had been proclaimed following rioting. The following description of events in Sholapur is taken from the regimental history:
Out in India the 2nd Battalion under Lieutenant-Colonel H. R. Goodman D.S.O. was now looking forward to moving from Poona to Madras. Four years in Poona was a long time and the novelty of the station had long been exhausted. .. .. Following the arrest of Gandhi the troops were confined to barracks and guards placed on vulnerable points. Moreover, Martial Law was proclaimed at Sholapur which, being one one hundred and fifty miles away from Poona, appeared to be of no concern to the Rifles. Nevertheless, on May 12 the Battalion, now under Lieutenant-Colonel H. P. Currey, was ordered to en-train that same afternoon for Sholapur. This was most intriguing, not quite war, of course, and yet something real and tangible with which to grapple. At 4.30 p.m. the first train steamed out, arriving at its destination seven hours later on one of the hottest nights of the year. By 5 a.m. the occupation of the city was complete and Martial Law was declared by the beat of a drum. In the bright moonlight of that early dawn it was a weird sight to see one Company after another slipping away from the railway institute, complete with Lewis guns and other equipment, to its unknown destination. The occupation had come as a complete and absolute surprise to the inhabitants. The appearance of the R.U.R. had a magical effect. There was no sign of resistance, active or passive. Patrols combed out the affected areas in the vicinity and made several arrests, both before and after curfew. This broke the back of the resistance. The civil police were gradually reinstated in their position. The Civil Corps was re-established and the Battalion returned to Poona having acquired a great deal of experience which was destined to be very useful in days to come, as well as a Gandhi flag captured at Sholapur and now in the Regimental museum. Lieutenant-Colonel Currey further received the thanks of both the Governor of Bombay and the Army Commander for the splendid work of the Battalion.
During WW2, Currey saw service in Norway, 1940, and after the evacuation from Norway was subsequently District Commandant, South Eastern Command, 1941-1944.
Group accompanied by cased silver Royal Ulster Rifles regimental prize medal for the 1928 runners-up in the Duke of Connaught Cup, named to Major H.P. Currey, 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles.
