Christie, John Pollock

5824 Private John Pollock Christie - 28th Battalion AIF

John Pollock Christie was born in Fremantle WA on the 11th December 1892 to James and Phoebe Christie. He had eight siblings, Myra (1891), Gladys (1894), Evelyn (1895), Robert (1897), Ida (1900), Alexander (1903) and Jessie (1906).

The family lived in Fremantle and John was educated at Fremantle Boys School. He also spent three years in the school cadets.

After leaving school, John took up work as a Clerk and the family moved to Rokeby Road Subiaco.

On the 4th April 1916, John enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as; 

Height - 5 feet 6 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 116lbs;

Chest Measurement - 32-35 inches;

Complexion - Light;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Auburn.

Upon his successful enlistment, James was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.63 Training Depot. For the next month he was taken through the basics of infantry work at this depot camp.

On the 4th May 1916 he was transferred to the 16th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion AIF. He remained training with this group till the 30th May 1916. John was then pulled out of the reinforcement group and was sent to the Signal School to learn to become a Signaller. He spent almost two months at this school and had become a proficient Signaller.

As the 16th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion had not yet left WA, John was transferred back into this group. They had another two months of training ahead of them in WA.

On the 10th October 1916 John and his group boarded the transport ship HMAT Suffolk in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for England. After a long sea journey, the ship arrived at Plymouth England on the 2nd December 1916.

John and his group were then disembarked and sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone Camp on the Salisbury Plains. John would have the next four and a half months in England as it wasn't until the 9th of April 1917 that he was taken on strength of the 28th battalion in France.

John joined his unit in time to take part in the 2nd Battle of Bullecourt in May 1917. The 28th Battalion took over part of the line captured by the 6th Australian Brigade and while holding what had been captured, also attempted to further the gains already made. There was much close quarter fighting with the Germans.

After the 28th Battalion was relieved from Bullecourt they were given a three month rest period out of the line.

In September 1917 the 28th Battalion was to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 20th September 1917 John took part in the Battle of Menin Road. He was wounded during the advance when shrapnel struck his arm. He was sent to the 6th Field Ambulance for treatment and then to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station. After further treatment John was sent to the 35th General Hospital at Calais. 

After six days at Calais, John was shipped to England, where upon arrival he was sent to the 2nd Birmingham War Hospital. He remained there till the 15th October 1917 when he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford.

He spent another month there and on the 16th November 1917 was transferred to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth. Due to his arm wound the decision had been made to return John to Australia.

On the 20th December 1917 he boarded the transport ship Runic and returned home to Western Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 6th February 1918.

John was discharged from the AIF on the 12th July 1918. 

After the Great War John returned to live at Subiaco and resumed his accountancy career.

In 1922 he married Madge Fowler at Cottesloe Beach and a daughter Evelyn was born in 1924, followed by Jean in 1925, John in 1927 and Ailsa in 1928.

Through the 1930's he was working as an Accountant and agent and was living in Corrigin for a few years before returning to Wembley.

John also saw service in World War Two as on the 2nd September 1940 John enlisted into the Australian Army. He was given the regimental number W17161. Due to his accountancy career, after enlistment John was assigned to the Australian Army Pay Corps. From 1940 to 1946 he was working with his unit in WA. He was discharged on the 3rd December 1946.

John died on the 28th April 1959 at Hollywood Hospital aged 66. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.