A soldier with the CEF during the First World War, he was posthumously awarded the VC for his actions on 11 October 1918, during the Hundred Days Offensive, exactly a month before the armistice with Germany.

[5] His actions on 11 October contributed to the capture of the entire village later that day, for which he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross (VC).

[7] The citation that was published in the London Gazette for his VC read: For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice on the 11th October, 1918, north-east of Cambrai, when with attacking troops which came under heavy enfilade machine-gun fire from a neighbouring village.

He then rushed another machine gun, killed the crew, captured an officer and 10 enemy, and thereby cleared the end of the village.

His valour and personal initiative in the face of intense fire saved many lives and enabled the position to be held.Algie's body was retrieved and he was buried at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Niagara Cemetery at Iwuy, 5 mi (8.0 km) north east of Cambrai.