William Currey

William Matthew Currey VC (born Wallsend, New South Wales 19 September 1895 – died Bexley, New South Wales 30 April 1948 ) was an Australian politician in the Parliament of NSW, a labourer and railway worker, a citizen soldier and, whilst a member of the First AIF, an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details
He was 22 years old, and a private in the 53rd Bn (N.S.W.), Australian Imperial Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 1 September 1918 in the attack on Péronne, France, Private Currey rushed forward under heavy machine-gun fire and captured single-handed a 77mm field gun which had been holding up the advance, killing all the crew. Later, when the advance was checked by an enemy strong-point he crept round the flank and engaged the post with a Lewis gun, then rushed it, causing many casualties. Subsequently he volunteered to carry orders for withdrawal to an isolated company, doing so under heavy fire and bringing back valuable information. The citation published in the London Gazette of 14 December 1918 concluded that his behaviour was a ''striking example of coolness, determination and utter disregard of danger... and his gallant work contributed largely to the success of the operation.''

Australian war historian C.E.W. Bean described the final act of Currey's heroism thus: ''At 3 am when efforts to reach (a Lt Waite in an advanced position) having failed Private Currey volunteered to make his third attempt and going out far into the disputed front he stood up and called with all his lung power. "Waitsy! Get in." The Germans turned on him every weapon they had; he was gassed and his respirator was shot through. But Waite had heard him and returned.''

Remembrances
Currey's Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia Following a public appeal in 1956 a plaque was erected in memory of Currey in the Speakers Square within the NSW Parliament complex. During renovations in the 1970s the plaque was put into storage for safekeeping and was only rediscovered and restored to its place in 2008. In 1976, the Jeffries and Currey Memorial Library was opened by the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Roden Cutler, at Dudley Public School to honour two of the school's pupils who were decorated with the Victoria Cross during the First World War: Clarence Jeffries and William Currey. The pair are also commemorated by the ''Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall'' located in the grounds of Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, which was unveiled in an official ceremony on 16 April 2000.

Later life
He was the member for Kogarah in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1941 till his death. He represented the Australian Labor Party.