A DOCTOR DURING THE SIEGE OF LADYSMITH: Oswald James CURRIE
by Jo King

Oswald James Currie was born in 1860 in Greenwich, London, into a life of middle class prosperity and conformity. His parents, Alexander and Jessie, were of Scottish descent but long settled into London suburbia, able to pay for OJC's education fees at Guy's College from the income of Alexander's career as an insurance underwriter. At some point Oswald must have decided to reject the idea of medical practice in Britain and perhaps he was inspired by tales of his father's seven brothers who had variously emigrated, enlisted and travelled all over the world. Certainly, after qualifying as a doctor at the University of London with a first class degree in forensic medicine, he did not waste much time before leaving his comfortable life and 4 stay-at-home younger siblings to pursue his love of travel and adventure. After a year in Ceylon and a spell as a ship's doctor, he finally came to South Africa which was to become his home.

Oswald worked as a physician in Pietermaritzburg from 1892 and was also a surgeon at Gray's Hospital there. In 1896 he married Sara Gough Gubbins, born in Limerick in Ireland and a cousin to Sir Charles O'Grady Gubbins, and they had their first of 4 children in 1898. By this time, Oswald had become very involved in the Natal Medical Corps and by the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Boer War he was a Captain with the Natal Carbineers. Realising he was living through history, he wrote 3 letters to his sister Rose's 5 year-old daughter back in England, telling her about the Ladysmith Siege where he worked in Intombi Camp with the other medical staff. Little Winifred went on to keep her "Uncle Oswald" letters all her life and they were often brought out of their little leather case as treasures for her children and later her grandchildren and great grandchildren to see.

Oswald himself went on to survive both the Boer War and the First World War. After 1908, the family left Natal and made their home in the Cape where Oswald became a well-respected GP, kept up his interest in hospital work at the Wynberg Hospital and contributed much to the South African Medical Corps. He died at the age of 72 in 1932.

Family group taken 1900 shows Oswald James Currie and his wife (Sara Gough Gubbins) with their children John Alexander (Jack) b 1898 and Jessie b 1900 (died in infancy)

Dr. Oswald James CURRIE on horseback, in Natal Carbineers field uniform

Close-up of Oswald J CURRIE in his slouch hat with the Natal Carbineers 'NC' badge on the side

[Footnote: for anyone interested in Currie's medical activities during the Siege of Ladysmith, or in that period of the Anglo-Boer War, a good source is 'Diary of the Siege of Ladysmith' Vol No 6, 'Experience of a Siege - A Nurse looks back on Ladysmith' by Nurse Kate Driver. Published by Ladysmith Historical Society 1978. There are 6 volumes in this series, recommended reading. Rosemary Dixon-Smith]