Curley Christian

Ethelbert "Curley" Christian (likely 15 April 1882 – 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.

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. He was raised Baptist and had three siblings. 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. He "became a sort of public figure, championing initiatives for the care of war amputees and disabled".

In July 1936 Christian was one of 6200 veterans invited to the dedication of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial. 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. He also met King George VI and Queen Elizabeth when they visited Toronto in 1939.