SAPPER JAMES OLA CHRISTIANSON
3277 – 1st Tunnelling Company
Newcastle, New South Wales was the birthplace of James Ola Christianson on March 19, 1863 the son of Christian and Mary Ann (nee Matthews formerly Critchley) Christianson. He had been an apprentice for three years as a butcher under Mr Green. At twenty-two years of age he married on April 6, 1885 to Mary Ann Morris.
The following Police Court report appeared in the:
He enlisted for service during the Boer War with the NSW Citizen’s Bushmen where he was assigned to the Regimental Staff with the number 532 as a butcher. The Contingent departed on February 28, 1900 and returned on June 11, 1901. His letter home to his wife was published in the:
News of his arrival home was published in the:
He re-enlisted with the Steinaecker’s Horse Special Squadron on February 3, 1902 aged thirty-eight years and stood (5ft 7½ins) tall, and was reported receiving a gunshot wound to his right foot on April 16, 1902 near Haenertsberg, S.A. Military Discharge took place upon disbandment of the Squadron on July 15, 1902.
In a local parade in 1905 he was a one of a group of veterans that marched recorded in the:
Footnote:
STEINAECKER’S HORSE.
This unit was formed during the Anglo Boer war. Its main aim was to stop the movement of arms and menfrom Portuguese East Africa to the Boers in Transvaal and Orange Free State. Also to prevent the movement of Boer despatches to and from Portuguese East Africa and to hinder the movement of the Boer Commandos etc. Steinaecker’s Horse main base was in Komatipoort with many outposts.
Trooper Christianson was awarded for his Boer War service the Queen’s South Africa Medal and 4 clasps (Cape Colony, Rhodesia, Orange Free State and Transvaal) and the King’s South Africa Medal with two clasps (South Africa 1901 & South Africa 1902). Receipt of the King’s Medal was reported in the:
At the recruiting depot in Newcastle, NSW on April 6, 1916 the married and all-round butcher and cook applied to enlist for active service abroad with the enrolling officer at Battalion Area 20, Newcastle. Personal details taken with his preliminary medical examination reveal his postal address was Laing-street, Market Square, Newcastle and was 165cms (5ft 5ins) tall with a chest expansion of 94-99cms (37-39ins). His age was stated to be forty-three years. He was declared fit ‘on special enlistment’ and it was concurred by the recruiting office that he be accepted as a butcher in the Mining Battalion.
Attestation Forms were completed which describe him further as weighing 74.5kgs (164lbs) with a fair and ruddy complexion with hazel eyes that passed the eye test with poor vision and had fair hair. Methodist was his religious faith. Medical notation was ‘teeth need attention’. Next-of-kin nominated was his wife Mary Ann Christianson of Laing Street, Newcastle and he allotted three-fifths of his pay in support of her and their children. He was sworn in the same day.
He was assigned to the No.4 Tunnelling Company in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 3277.
Recruits forming part of the No.4 Tunnelling Company embarked from Brisbane, Qld early in May, 1916 aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, NSW. Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections.
At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW about May 10, 1916 they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training.
The 7713-ton transport departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Victoria the No.5 Company recruited from Victoria, South Aust. & Tasmania made up of Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). 1 Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1st Reinforcements for No.5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.) The ship departed on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs.
Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916 added No.6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs departing the same day.
Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916 and Cape Town on June 21, 1916, while St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916. Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where Absent without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather terminating at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916. Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were detrained to Amesbury and Tidworth to begin training for the front.
On August 28, 1916 Sapper Christianson marched in from the No.1 Command Depot at Perham Downs until September 8, when he moved to No.3 camp at Parkhouse. On January 5, 1917 he went from the Aust Details camp to the Infantry Depot at No.6 camp remaining there until transferred to the Headquarters camp on May 11, 1917.
An extract from his letter to a friend was printed in the:
The following excerpt was taken from a letter to his wife and published in the:
He was admitted to hospital on August 7, 1917 and classified with CIII debility by the Senior Medical Officer who advised to ‘carry on with light duties in the cookhouse.’
Relocated to the Overseas Training Depot at Sutton Veny on June 18, 1917 he was reported to be still on strength there in an audit on February 8, 1918. On May 23, 1918 he was noted to have been paid in England.
He was still with the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge camp when Peace was declared.
On November 29, 1918 he was at Sandhill camp and appeared before a Medical Board at the Overseas Training Brigade. His Statement of Case reads:
Disability:DebilityAge: 54 years
Date of disability:Pre-existing prior to enlistment
Place of disability:Australia
Essential facts:Lame, weak, short of breath on exertion, unable to march. Was
classified CIII by S.M.O. at Perham Downs 7-8-18. Has carried on
as bde butcher
Causation:Pre-existing and not attributable to service
Aggravated by service
General debility – elderly man, stout, plethoric, marked dyspnoea,
Tachycardia on exertion, general weakness
Gait – lame in left leg, stiff in upper leg
Heart sounds – faint
Other disabilities:age 54; Rheumatic pain occasionally
Recommendation:CIII
Disablement:20%
Finding:Permanently unfit for general service; permanently unfit for home service
Approved:30/11/18
Another medical document dated November 30 stated: Age 54, Rheumatism left leg – stout, plethoric, short winded, some bronchitis. Class CIII.
On December 5, 1918 he marched in from the Training Brigade to the No.1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny and six days later was marked with C3 disability and sent to the No.2 Command Depot at Weymouth.
Sapper Christianson embarked for Australia as an invalid due to overage, chronic arthritis of left knee and hip joint, on H.T. Czaritza on March 16, 1919 and was transhipped to the Dunluce Castle at Alexandria on April 7, 1919. Base Records advised his wife on April 2, 1919 that he was on his way home. News of this was published in the:
The ship docked in Melbourne, Vic on May 15, 1919 and he disembarked in Sydney soon after. News of their arrival was announced in the:
He appeared before the Disembarkation Medical Board at the Anzac Buffet where the following essential facts were recorded:
Complains of pain in left leg. Pain is not consistent but states that cannot walk properly.
B.W. right leg 1903. B.W. left leg 1903.
Aggravated by Military Service
General condition good. Walks with a marked limp.
Treatment was deferred for one month
Deferred till 17.6.19
Disability degree permanent – no
Anticipate improvement – very slight improvement
General debility labour market – 100%
Discharge unfit for service – yes
Statement made at No.4 Aust General Hospital, Randwick 3/3/20. Discharge confirmed 4/3/20.
Military Discharge was issued in Sydney (2nd Military District) on April 25, 1920 as medically unfit.
A Statement of Service was issued from Base Records to the Sydney Branch of the Repatriation Department dated December 9, 1921 for War Pension purposes.
For his service abroad Sapper 3277 James Ola Christianson, 1st Tunnelling Company was issued the British War Medal (46376).
From 1930 onwards he was recorded residing at 58 Elizabeth Street, Tighe Hill and retired.
He wrote to Base Records in July 1936 requesting his Victory Medal and stated his military service abroad. The Medal Section replied on August 3, 1936 advising that as he did not serve on the strength of a unit in a theatre of war whilst serving as a member of the A.I.F. he did not qualify for the award of the Victory Medal.
James Ola Christianson passed away on August 11, 1942 aged 79 years. Family arrangements and his Obituary were published in the:
His grave is located in the Methodist portion of Sandgate Cemetery Newcastle, NSW within section NE10 in lot 20.
Also named on the monument are his three sons.
His son also served.
PRIVATE DAVID CHRISTIANSON
1090 – 35th Battalion
David Christianson was born at Jesmond, Newcastle, NSW on February 8, 1893 the son of James Ola and Mary Ann Christianson. Military experience was gained with the School Cadets until discharged on leaving school.
At the recruiting depot in Werris Creek, NSW on February 18, 1916 the twenty-two year old married carter / butcher applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the preliminary medical examination personal details taken show he was 175cms (5ft 9ins) tall with a chest measurement of 92cms (36ins).
His postal address was Henry Street, Werris Creek. Declared fit his application was accepted and to report to West Maitland to further processing which he did on March 28, 1916.
Attestation forms were completed and added further information that he weighed 60kgs (132lbs) with a dark complexion, grey eyes and dark hair. Methodist was his religious faith. Distinctive marks were tattoos featuring the bust of a woman with a flag (Liberty), head of a woman on left forearm, ship in circle with flag round it on upper left arm, bust of woman with ship and lighthouse on right forearm and flag and shield on upper right arm. Next-of-kin nominated was his wife Leila Mary Christianson of Henry Street, Werris Creek, NSW nominating two-fifths of his pay in support of her. He was sworn in the same day.
Basic training took place with ‘D Coy’, 36th Battalion from April 5, 1916. His rank was Private with the regimental number 1090.
The Reinforcements departed on May 13, 1916 on the transport A72 Beltana and arrived at Devonport on July 9. After further training the troops proceeded to France via Southampton on November 22, 1916.
Disciplinary action was issued for several unauthorised Absent without Leave while in camp.
He wrote a letter home to his mother with an extract reproduced in the:
He went sick to hospital on March 18, 1917 and admitted to the Aust Field Ambulance then to the 2nd Aust Casualty Clearing Station with Rhinitis (inflammation of mucous membranes lining nose, causing running nose).
The hospital ship St Denis conveyed him to England on March 24 from Boulogne for treatment. Was transferred to the 1st Aust Auxiliary Hospital on May 10 remaining until discharged to furlough on June 11 and he was classified with C2 debility on June 14 and to report to Weymouth on June 28, 1917 due to septal defect.
On July 28, 1917 he marched into the overseas training brigade with class C3 debility. While at Sandhill camp further discipline was given for neglect of duty.
He proceeded overseas to France on October 17, 1918 arriving in Rouelles at the Aust Infantry Base Depot (AIBD) and was taken on strength of the 35th Battalion. He was with his unit when Peace was declared.
On March 15, 1919 he returned to the A.I.B.D. for demobilisation and transferred to the Aust Base Depot in Havre on April 12, 1919.
After demobilisation Private Christianson departed for home on May 20, 1919 on board H.T. Nestor and disembarked in Sydney (2nd M.D.) on July 4.
Military Discharge was issued in Sydney on August 28, 1919 as medically unfit.
For serving his country Private 1090 David Christianson, 35th Battalion was issued with the British War Medal (42594) and the Victory Medal (41701).
During World War II he re-enlisted for service from Tighe’s Hill on October 30, 1941. Next-of-kin given was Mary Christianson. His service number was N282105 and he was serving as a gunner with Heavy Artillery when discharged on December 23, 1941.
Olaf Rupert Matthew Christianson who was born in 1887 in Newcastle, NSW the son of James and Mary Christianson applied to serve also. He was married in 1908 to Louisa Pearson at Murrundi, NSW and enlisted in Leichhardt, NSW with the Merchant Navy on the s.s. Slamat (Netherlands). He died aged 53 years on April 27, 1941 while serving as chief butcher on the vessel.
Also aboard the same ship was his son Olaf Pearson Christianson (26) who was a leading butcher enlisting on August 26, 1939. Mrs Christianson was advised and their demise was announced in the:
With no known graves their names appear on Panel 98 in Part III of the Tower Hill Memorial in London, UK commemorating men and women who served in the Merchant Navy and fishing fleets.
© Donna Baldey 2015