My CHRISTIAN FAMILY
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Welcome to my CHRISTIAN FAMILY Pages. Information shown in these pages has been gathered from many sources - including from my parents and living relatives. I am very grateful for their support and memories. I have not shown ALL my information on these pages but, in-time I will work on up-dating these pages. Some information may be incorrect and, there is much detail still to find. I welcome any contacts with new and/or, correct information or, just to make contact with me. Please go back to my HomePage for my contact details.
My Christian family connections came from Dublin, Ireland. I have not yet managed to find a lot on my Irish history at this stage. What information I have is: #1 Joseph Henry Christian #2 John Alfred Christian Born Dublin South. Married Lucy Murray 26 December 1883, Dublin. They had five children. John died about 1900, as Lucy re-married Samuel Doherty in 1901, Dublin. Lucy and Samuel had three children. John's occupation was a saddler/harness maker. It is beleived that Samuel died in Ireland prior to 1920. In July 1921, Lucy and her two daughters arrived in NZ on the request of Lucy's son Henry, from her marriage to John Alfred.
#3
Henry Joseph Christian 1886 - 1962
Henry
Joseph Christian Henry Joseph was born in Dublin, Ireland on 02 June 1886. He married Ettie Dorothy Wood 24 July 1924 in Dannevirke, New Zealand. They had eight children: Catherine Lucy, Walter Colin, Marion Isobell, Dorothy May, John Alfred, Henry Joseph, Findlay George and Ronald Charles. Henry died 02 December 1962 in Papatoetoe, Auckland. Henry was the only one out of his brothers and sister that lived and married and, had children.
New Zealand Bound Henry came to NZ it is believed between late-1912 and early-1915 and, maybe via Australia as his brother Colin went to Australia and enlisted into the Australian Army during WWI. Henry was baptised at St Werburgh Church, Dublin on 12th August 1912, when Henry was 26 years old! One could assume this was because of his departure to NZ. His occupation prior to joining the NZ Army was that of a carpenter with his employer being Messrs Shaw & Payne, Wellington His address that he last resided at prior to enlisting in the army, was at 254 Devon Street, New Plymouth [this may have, been a soldiers hostel? It may have been that he lived at the hostel between his return from the war - 20 September 1919 - and, his discharge from the army - 18 October 1919.]
Henry Joseph Christian’s Life During The Great War - WWI Henry enlisted into the NZ Army on 15 June 1915. He was posted to the B Company 7th Regiment of the Wellington Infantry Battalion. He left NZ for the war on 09 October 1915 with the NZ Expeditionary Force. Henry arrived at Suez, Egypt on 18 November 1915 and, joined his Battalion at Moascar, north of Suez on 09 January 1916 soon after their return back from Gallipoli. The NZ Expeditionary Force - was made up from one Battalion from each of the Military Districts - Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago. Each Battalion comprised of four companies. The NZEF consisted of four double companies, each 227 strong. The Wellington Regiment had four companies called - 7th Wellington-West Coast Company; the 11th Taranaki Company; the 9th Hawkes Bay Company and, the 17th Ruahine Company. The Wellington Regiment - fought in Gallipoli prior to Henry’s attachment to the Battalion. In February 1915 the Wellington Regiment defended the Suez Canal from Turkey and, from 10 April 1915, the Regiment was to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Lemnos, for the Gallipoli Campaign. The Regiment arrived at Lemnos on the 15 April 1915; Gallipoli started 25 April 1915. The Regiment fought at Gallipoli until December 1915, when evacuation orders to withdraw were received on the 15 December 1915. The evacuation began on the 18 December where the Regiment embarked back to Egypt via Lemnos and Alexandria on the 24th and 25th December 1915. It was a three day boat trip. On arrival at Alexandria, they were entrained to Moascar near the Suez Canal. The Wellington Battalion became a unit in the defense of the Suez Canal however, there were no attacks while the NZEF were back here. By February 1916, NZ was able to organise a full Division. The old Battalion became the 1st Battalion of the Wellington Regiment and, one of the Battalions of the 1st Brigade. The 2nd Battalion of the Wellington Regiment were mainly made up of the new arrivals. Henry was posted into the 2nd Battalion (I think!!)
The 1st Battalion left Moascar Camp on the 6th and 7th April 1916 for Marseilles on the HM Troopship "Arcadian". While the 2nd Battalion left on the 8th April on the HM Troopships "Knight of the Garter" and the "Llandovery Castle". The 1st Battalion arrived in Marseilles on the 12th and 13th April then entrained for the North of France. The 2nd Battalion arrived on the 18th April then entrained the same day for the British sector in the North of France. The NZ Division was to relieve the 17th Division in front of Armentieres. The 1st Brigade to the right sector with two battalions on the front line and two in reserve; the 2nd Brigade to the left sector with all four battalions on the front line and, the Rifle Brigade in Divisional Reserve. On the 12 May 1916 the 1st Battalion moved into Armentieres, with the 1st Brigade relieving the line held by the 51st Infantry Brigade; the 1st Wellington relieving the 7th Lincolnshires. On the 14 May, the 2nd Battalion reached Armentieres and relieved the 9th Duke of Wellington at the line. The 1st Wellington held and defended a sharp salient known as "The Musroom". 23 May; the 2nd Battalion was relieved by the 4th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade. The 1st Battalion was already relieved by the 1st Canterbury. Neither Battalions took part in any fighting during the first fortnight of June 1916. 14 July; the NZ Division took over the front held by the 8th Australian Artillery Brigade. This was preparatory to a large Australian attack in the Fleurbaix sector. On the 16 July the 2nd Battalion was relieved and marched to a subsidiary line between Buterne Farm to Irish Avenue. 31 July; the NZ Division resumed its original frontage between Pear Tree Farm to River Lys. During the nights of the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th August 1916, the NZ Division withdrew from the Armentieres sector, with the Division concentrating in the Blaringhem area. The 1st Battalion was relieved by the 4th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders on the 15th August and moved to Armentieres. The next day they marched to Steenwerck and then entrained for Ebblinghern. A few days later, they marched to Airaines for training for the coming offensive in the Somme area. The 2nd Battalion moved to Armentieres on the 17 August, the next day marched to Steenwerck then onto Eddlinghern then, a few days later marched and trained to Airaines. The 1st and 2nd Battalions rested and trained in Fricourt and Airaines respectively. On the 2 September 1916 the two Battalions began their march for the Somme front. The 2nd Battalion left Airaines on the 2nd and marched to Cavillon, the 3rd marched to Breilly-sur-Somme, the 7th marched to Rainneville via Bertangles and Cadonette, the 8th onto camp next to the 1st Battalion then, on the 10th marched to Fricourt and finally, on the 12th September moved into the Carlton and Check Trenches. On the 2 September 1916, the 1st Battalion marched to Belloy via Allery, on the 7th marched to Poulainville, the 8th to Dernancourt, the 9th to Albert and finally on the 10th to Fricourt Wood. By the 13 September 1916 the NZ Division was in place for the Battle of the Somme, with their objective being Flers. The Battle of the Somme was ordered for the 15 September 1916. The 2nd and 3rd Brigades were first to attack, with the 1st Brigade in Divisional Reserve. The 2nd Brigades objective was the Green Line while, the 2nd Brigades objective was to go through and capture remaining objectives and form a defensive flank facing North West and, to occupy a part of the Carlton Trench. The 2nd Wellington was attached to the 3rd Brigade. On the 14 September, the 1st Battalion was in the Carlton Trench in Brigade reserve. At 6.20am on the 15 September 1916, the attack began. The 2nd Battalion moved forward from the Carlton Trench. The Wellington-West Coast to Dorset and Pear Trenches. At 8.15am the Brigade captured its second objective and, the companies of the 1st Battalion moved forward. That Battalion was to be ready to assist the 3rd NZ Brigade.
The 1st Wellington moved to Check Trench (1.5km north of Montauban). Meantime, the 2nd Battalion moved forward. The Wellington-West Coast Company went through to Flers with the Rifle Brigade. On the 16 September 1916, the 1st Battalion moved to Flers where they encountered heavy fire. At 6.30am, the Battalion took up position from the North West end of Flers to Abbey Road - Flers Trench - Cross Roads. Then the 1st Battalion carried out further advances and took over part of Groove Alley. Heavy casualties were encountered here. Henry was wounded on the 16 September 1916 but, exact location is not known. This was his last time fighting on the front lines during the War. Henry’s remaining War Days in England Henry was admitted to the 22nd General Hospital at Rouen on the 19 September 1916. On about the 20th, he embarked HS "Salter" for England and was admitted on the 25 September to the 3rd Southern General Hospital at Oxford. On the 06 December 1916 Henry was attached to the [unknown: Steng B Co. Depot] at Hornchurch, Romford, east London. He was discharged to Codford [unknown Depot] about 13miles north west of Salisbury, Wiltshire on the 23 February 1917 and, was to report at Codford on the 10 March 1917. Henry was on leave between 23 February to 10 March 1917. Between 09 July 1917 and 27 July 1919, Henry spent his remaining time during the war training at various camps throughout South West England. Henry’s Return to New Zealand. Henry departed Plymouth, England for New Zealand on the ship "Hororata" on the 28 July 1919 and arrived back in NZ on the 20 September 1919. Henry was discharged from the army on the 18th October 1919, with a rank of Corporal of the Wellington Infantry Regiment.
Life in New Zealand On his return and discharge from the army on 18 October 1919, it is not sure where Henry lived and worked between October 1919 and July 1924, when he married. He may have returned initially to the Devon Street address in New Plymouth then most probably lived and worked in Auckland. Soon after his return to NZ after the war, he asked his mother to come out to NZ to live. His mother Lucy, her daughters Lucy Isabella and Isabella, arrived in NZ in July 1921 on the S.S. Athenic, which sailed from the port of Southhampton, England. Henry married Ettie Dorothy Wood in Dannevirke in 1924 (probably married here as this is where Ettie’s family lived). They had eight children - Catherine Lucy, Walter Colin, Marion Isobell, Dorothy May, John Alfred, Henry Joseph, Findlay George and Ronald Charles. Henry and Ettie lived at 25 Omana Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland between 1924 and early 1931. In about April 1931 the family - five children at this stage - moved to Kaimai where Henry went farming. Soon after their daughter Catherine Lucy was married in March 1952, Henry and Ettie moved back to their Omana Road address in Papatoetoe, Auckland where Henry retired. Henry died in Papatoetoe on 02 December 1962 aged 76 years.
Lucy Doherty and Family Lucy Doherty (nee Murray) first marriage was to John Alfred Christian. After John died, Lucy married Samuel Doherty in 1901, Dublin, Ireland. It is assumed that Samuel died in Ireland; date unknown. After Lucy's son from her first marriage, Henry's return to NZ from WWI, he asked her and her daughters to come and live in NZ. Lucy and her daughters Lucy Isabella and Isabella (Bella), arrived in Auckland in July 1921. Lucy Isabella married George Poole and, they had two children - Pattie and Roger. Sadly, Roger was killed in a plane crash in 1970. Both Pattie and Roger married and have families. Isabella (Bella) married John Terence Belcher and, they had one child Colin. Colin is married with a family.
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