True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: April, 2018
Reg.#15580, Corporal Kenneth Dennis Curry
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
The following story about RCMP Veteran Kenneth Dennis Curry is fascinating, but so little was known about Ken's life during WWII, and his background in security work until his obituary was released. To ensure that the details of his life remain accurate, much of the content here was taken from his published obituary.
Kenneth was born in Lodzia, Poland and was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church under the name Kazimierz, Carol Ciura. The Ciura family immigrated to Canada with Kenneth (Kazimierz) in August 1928.
Ken grew up on a farm with his brothers Karl and Walter and sisters Angela, Wanda and Helen in Glenella and McCreary, Manitoba. Anxious to join his buddies and brothers in the war effort, Ken joined the Royal Canadian Air Force on February 2, 1943.
Ken was part of the liberation of Holland where he often talked about the kindness of the Dutch people and the way they treated their Canadian liberators. He saw action in Europe and was awarded the C.V.S.M. with Clasp and the France and Germany Star.
While serving in Germany during the final stages of the war Ken was one of the liberators of the Bergen-Belsen Death Camp where they found more than 10,000 unburied dead.
Although Ken did not talk much about his war experiences, he did often mention the time whereby he noticed movement during the burial of these victims and, due to his quick actions, he was able to save a 16 year old female from the mass burial and delightedly stated that she was helping out in the kitchen just three weeks later.
Because of his ability to speak both Polish and German, Ken went on to work with the Royal Canadian Air Force intelligence service hunting escaping Nazi SS criminals by interviewing concentration camp victims.
This work led him to transfer from the RCAF to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in October 1948 whereby he worked in the counter espionage wing of the RCMP from 1948 to 1956.
He had many high-profile cases including collaborating with fellow RCMP members and the CIA to uncover a mole working in the RCMP. "James Morrison" known as Long Knife, who in 1955 sold out a Canadian double agent to the Soviets for $3,500.00 (about a year's wages for a Mountie at the time).
Ken left the counter espionage branch of the RCMP in 1956 after being promoted in rank and went on to run three RCMP detachments in Melville, Yorkton and Esterhazy Saskatchewan. Many exploits of this part of his career are notable including his investigation of a murder case which resulted in the capture of a serial killer.
He also represented the RCMP at a First Nations Treaty Ceremony with Sitting Bull's Grandson representing the First Nations Band.
After retiring from the RCMP in 1966, Ken moved to an acreage outside of Sherwood Park, Alberta where he lived happily until recently, due to ill heath, he moved in with his son David Curry and daughter-in-law Jan.
Ken's last days were at the Colonel Belcher care facility where he often said he felt honoured to be spending his last days with Veterans of the RCMP and the Armed Forces. Ken was predeceased by his loving wife Rose Marie, of 60 years, his sons Stephen and Kevin.
Ken is survived by daughter Deanna Markle, granddaughters Amy/Mike, Stefanie and son David/Jan Curry, grandsons Jason/Shawna, Tyler, Myles and Darrin, bother Walter and sister Helen Carsted.
Mass will be held at St Peter's Catholic Church (541 Silvergrove Drive NW Calgary, AB T3B 4R9) this Thursday August 10 at 1:00 p.m. with a reception to follow.
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
April 23, 2018
