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{{short description|Canadian war veteran and activist}}<br />
[[File:Curley Christian on the Montrose.jpg|thumb|Curley Christian in 1936]]<br />
'''Ethelbert''' "'''Curley'''" '''Christian''' (likely 15 April 1882 &ndash; 15 March 1954) was a Canadian [[First World War]] veteran and activist. He has been described as "one of Canada's best known black soldiers" from that war.<ref name=star>"[https://www.thestar.com/news/world/ww1/2014/08/01/world_war_1_encyclopedia_christian_curley.html World War 1 Encyclopedia: Christian, Curley]". ''The Star'', 1 August 2014.</ref><br />
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Details of Christian's early years are contradictory: he was most likely born in [[Homestead, Pennsylvania]], in 1882, but may have been born in [[Virginia]] in 1884.<ref name=canadian>Thomas Smith (4 March 2015). "[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/curley-christian Curley Christian]". ''The Canadian Encyclopedia''.</ref> After leaving school at the age of 15 he travelled extensively and worked a number of odd jobs before settling in Canada. He enlisted in the [[Canadian Expeditionary Force]] in 1915 and was eventually assigned to the [[78th Battalion, CEF]].<ref name=canadian/><br />
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During the [[Battle of Vimy Ridge]], Christian was involved in supply transport. A shell hit a cargo drop point and he was trapped under debris for two days. An initial rescue failed when the stretcher-bearers were killed by artillery. Christian survived and was taken to a French military hospital.<ref name=star/><ref name=canadian/> Because of the seriousness of his condition, he was evacuated to the [[Bethnal Green Military Hospital]] in London for treatment.<ref name=star/> His limbs were [[gangrene|gangrenous]] and all four required amputation; Christian became the only quadruple amputee to survive from this war.<ref name=canadian/><br />
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Christian returned to Canada aboard [[HMHS Llandovery Castle|HMHS ''Llandovery Castle'']] in September 1917. He received prosthetic limbs in Toronto. During his rehabilitation, he met volunteer aide Cleopatra "Cleo" McPherson, whom he married on 11 December 1920. The couple had one son, Douglas, who served in the [[Second World War]] as a sailor.<ref name=canadian/><br />
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Christian's extensive medical needs required full-time caregiving. His wife petitioned for assistance from the federal government, leading to the establishment of the Attendance Allowance. This program offers disabled veterans funding to pay for caregiving needs.<ref>"[http://canadianmilitaryhistory.ca/wednesday-video-curley-christian-quadruple-amputee-of-vimy-ridge/ Curley Christian, Quadruple Amputee of Vimy Ridge]". Laurier Centre for Military, Strategic and Disarmament Studies, 11 April 2012.</ref><ref name=canadian/> Christian designed a prosthesis for writing to allow him to correspond with other veterans; his correspondents included the [[Korean War]]'s first quadruple amputee, US Army Private Robert Smith.<ref name=canadian/><ref>Sharon Adams (18 November 2018). "[https://legionmagazine.com/en/2018/11/quadruple-amputee-inspired-others/ Quadruple amputee inspired others]". ''Legion''.</ref> He "became a sort of public figure, championing initiatives for the care of war amputees and disabled".<ref>"[https://www.vimyfoundation.ca/100daysofvimy-march-20th-2017/ Ethelbert 'Curley' Christian]". ''#100DaysofVimy'', The Vimy Foundation, 20 March 2017.</ref><br />
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In July 1936 Christian was one of 6200 veterans invited to the dedication of the [[Canadian National Vimy Memorial]].<ref name=canadian/><ref>"[https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/people-and-stories/curley-christian Ethelbert 'Curley' Christian]". Veterans Affairs Canada, 26 February 2020.</ref> During this visit he introduced King [[Edward VIII]] to a group of fellow disabled veterans; this was subject to some media scrutiny as a potential breach of royal etiquette.<ref name=canadian/> He also met King [[George VI]] and [[Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother|Queen Elizabeth]] when they visited Toronto in 1939.<ref name=star/><br />
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Christian is buried in [[Prospect Cemetery in Toronto]]. He is memorialized on the Mural of Honour at [[The Military Museums]].<ref name=canadian/> He may have been the inspiration for the 1938 novel ''[[Johnny Got His Gun]]'' and its subsequent adaptations.<ref>Shane Emplaincourt (2020). "[https://www.wlajournal.com/wlaarchive/32/EMPLAINCOURT.pdf ''Johnny Got His Gun'' and 'One': remembering basket case Joe Bonham]". ''War, Literature & the Arts: an international journal of the humanities'' 32.</ref><br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
*[http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/searches/soldierDetail.asp?ID=118927 Canadian Great War Project]<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Christian, Curley}}<br />
[[Category:1882 births]]<br />
[[Category:1954 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Canadian military personnel of World War I]]<br />
[[Category:Canadian Expeditionary Force soldiers]]<br />
[[Category:Quadruple amputees]]<br />
[[Category:Burials at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto]]<br />
[[Category:Black Canadian activists]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Canadian military personnel]]<br />
[[Category:Canadian amputees]]<br />
[[Category:Winnipeg Grenadiers]]<br />
[[Category:Winnipeg Grenadiers soldiers]]</div>Bot