Military History

Embarked from Fremantle per MHAT ‘Ascanius’ for Egypt 29.6.1915.
Roll Rank Private
Roll Unit with ‘C’ Company, 28th Battalion.
Christie disembarked at Suez with ‘C’ Company 28th Battalion. After a period of intensive training he embarked Alexandria with his Battalion for the Gallipoli Peninsula per HMAT ‘Ivernia’ 4.9.1915. He became sick whilst at ANZAC and was transferred by Hospital Ship to Mudros with influenza 11.1.1916. Christie was discharged from Hospital 18.1.1916 and returned to duty 6.3.1916. Ten days later he embarked with his unit form Alexandria with the British Expeditionary Force for France 16.3.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles, France 21.3.1916. The 28th Battalion fought at Pozieres in July and August 1916. Christie was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his left shoulder at Flers 3.11.1916. He was discharged from Hospital and rejoined his unit in France 26.12.1916. Christie was promoted to Lance Corporal 30.12.1916 and to Corporal 24.2.1917. He commenced training at the 2nd Divisional School. Christie was promoted to Temporary Sergeant 21.4.1917, then to Sergeant 1.5.1917. He was wounded in action (2nd time) with a severe gunshot wound to heel 3.5.1917, whilst sporting an attack on neat Bullecourt. Christie was invalided to England and admitted to Devonport Hospital, UK 19.5.1917. Three months later he was discharged to attend the School of Musketry at Perham Downs 15.8.1917. He then proceeded overseas to France 14.10.1917. Christie went AWOL 21.1.1918 and was Court Martialled 25.1.1918. He returned to his unit in France and fought with them in the advance towards the Beaurevoir Line.  In this attack 4 Officers and 11 other ranks were killed and 70 injured (AWM 28th Bn War Diaries).  He was KIA 3.10.1918 and buried in the field near Bellevue Farm, approximately 1 mile due West of Beau Revoir and 12 miles South, South East of Cambrai, France. However, there was no official registration of the grave and the site was not located. His name is recorded on the War Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.
Final Rank Sergeant, 28th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force.
Medical Condition Deceased, KIA.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes
Killed in action somewhere.’
(West Australian Newspaper, Killed in Action 26.10.1918)
Photos Christie, John R. Photograph source Western Mail 27.12.1918 p 21
             HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph source AWM H16157
             View towards Flers early 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00209
             Bullecourt, France 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM H1236
             Villers-Bretonneux Australian Memorial, dedicated in 1938. Photogapher unknown, photograph source H17454

Information Source
AWM H16157. HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E00209. View towards Flers early 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM H1236. Bullecourt, France 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM H17454. Villers-Bretonneux Australian Memorial, dedicated in 1938. Photogapher unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM 23/45/43. War Diairies. Infantry. 28th Bn. October 1918
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll- John Robert Christie
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour- John Robert Christie
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Christie J R
Western Mail


Kenny Street, West Guildford, WA.
‘Mossgiel’ Byers Rd., West Midland, WA.

Associated Images