Menin Road South Military Cemetery
Menin Road South Military Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John James Christie, one of 5 children all of whom survived, was the 1st born of 3 sons and had 2 younger sisters. His father John Christie was born, February 6th 1866, his wife Margaret Tindle Smith, September 29th 1870, both at South Shields, County Durham where they were married in 1890 and lived all their lives.
John James was born in 1890, while they were living at 33, Maxwell Street, his father employed as a barge/waterman, also listed in the census as a daughter is a Margaret J. Christie aged 10 years, obviously this is not possible as John and Margaret were only in their early 20s. Over the next 10 years Margaret gave birth to Ernest Richard in 1893, Lilian 1895, Reginald, September 1st 1897 and Eveline May in 1901 by which time they had moved to 26, Gilbert Street, John was now working as a ships rigger but had returned to being a waterman on the river by 1911, employed by a chemical works. John James (20) and Ernest Richard (18) both worked at the iron foundry of a marine engineering company, Lilian (16) was a draper's shop assistant, Reginald (13) and Eveline (9) were scholars. They were all living in 5 rooms at 269, Taylor Street, South Shields, County Durham.
After the declaration of war John James enlisted at Sunderland and was initially assigned to the 44th Northumbrian Division Cyclist Corps, later transferred to the 1/7th Durham Light Infantry, a first line battalion of the Territorial Force destined for service overseas.
During his training period John James was married at South Shields, 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1915 to Elizabeth Johnson, born December 19th 1899. When he departed for the front as of January 1916 his wife was pregnant, their son John Ernest Christie was born 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1916.
Having risen through the ranks to Sergeant he departed to the Western Front as of January 1916 arriving at the 35th Infantry Base Depot, Etaples, France. Assigned a new service number 203516 he posted to the 15th Battalion joining them in the field on the Somme. The battalion was in action during the opening battle, July 1st 1916, at Fricourt, but did not participate in any other major battles until September 1916 when they returned to the frontline trenches. Spring 1917 they transferred to the Arras sector participating at the Battle of Arras, April 9th 1917, on the opening day suffering heavy losses as the men were trapped by uncut barbed wire and mowed down by machine gun fire. After a period of rest, they returned to the frontline towards the end of April and May 6th were ordered to hold part of the Hindenburg Line. The battalion had moved to the Ypres salient in Belgium by October 1917 participating during the Third Battle of Ypres.
Sergeant 203518 John James Christie died of wounds October 3rd 1918 on the battlefield. His remains were brought in by the Field Ambulance for burial within Ypres Menin Road South Military Cemetery, grave II. I. 34. He was 27 years of age.
His widow Elizabeth received all monies due to him from the Army, a pension for herself and their son and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 14, Oxford Street, South Shields, County Durham.
Elizabeth commissioned at a cost of 14 shillings 3 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, ““Lost” How Can Such Lives Be Lost Just Gathered Up.”
Both of John James’ brothers were eligible for service during WW1. The death of Ernest Richard Christie preceded that of his brother, he also died of wounds, June 1st 1917 on active service in Egypt. Had he served, Reginald Christie survived the conflict and died at South Shields in 1977 aged 79 years.
In 1920 Elizabeth Christie re-married in the district of South Shields to Samuel Ernest Albert Hunn, born October 11th 1899 and baptised, January 23rd 1901, in the parish of St. Stephen, South Shields. Their daughter Lilian was born May 1st 1921.
Lilian Hunn married at South Shields in 1949 to local man, Joseph Scofield Jobbing, born July 27th 1918 and with whom she had 3 children, Terrance, April 15th 1945, Sheridan, February 4th 1948 and Trevor Joseph, July 15th 1956, in 1969 they’re living at 56, Barbour Avenue, South Shields where Joseph was employed as a driver. As a family they departed from Southampton, December 8th 1969 bound for Auckland, New Zealand, aboard the Southern Cross of the Shaw Savill Line.
Samuel and Elizabeth also settled in New Zealand. Elizabeth Hunn-Christie nee Johnson died, February 16th 1969, aged 69 years, Samuel Ernest Albert Hunn, April 4th 1969, aged 69 years, both registered at Auckland, New Zealand.
Their daughter Lilian and her family transferred from New Zealand to Australia. Joseph Schofield Jobbing and Lilian Jobbing nee Hunn both died in 2005, aged 87 and 84 years of age respectively, registered at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Elizabeth and John James’ son John Ernest Christie may have died in 2003, aged 86/87 years, Birmingham, Warwickshire.
Sergeant Christie’s parents John and Margaret Christie, in 1939, were living at 32, Fellside, Cleadon Park, South Shields, John died aged 71 years, December 31st 1940. Probate in the sum of £203 4s 6d to his widow. Details as regards the demise of Margaret Tindle Christie nee Smith, unknown
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John James Christie is not remembered at South Shields.
He is remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 271