Category: Military
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment or Ship: Army Service Corps; Gloucestershire Regiment, M.G.C.
Service Number(s): 38000; 162767
Occupation: Domestic gardener
Date of Birth: 1894
Place of Birth: Bexhill, Sussex
Address: 35 Windsor Road, Bexhill
Photos and newspaper articles
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Family Information
Parents:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Joseph Christian, b.1871 in St. Leonards, Sussex, d. 1938, and Mary Ann Christian (nee Sharman), b. 1869 in Peterborough.
In 1901 the family were living at 11 Parkhurst Road, Bexhill and John was a blacksmith. They moved to 35 Windsor Road in 1910 and lived there until at least 1920. In 1911 John’s occupation was given as coach smith. John’s parents were William and Mary A. Christian and William was a blacksmith working in Hastings.
Siblings:
Florence E. Christian, b. 1897 in Bexhill, d. 1919.
Edith Christian, b. 1901 in Bexhill.
First World War Experience
Because, amongst many others, Ernest’s service records have not survived we do not have any great details about his war service. What little we do know can be gleaned from the local newspapers as listed below.
In the Bexhill Observer dated Christmas Day 1915 a photograph appeared with the following notation: Pte. E. Christian, Army Service Corps, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Christian of 35 Windsor-road.
Then on 10th November 1917 a note in the Bexhill Chronicle said that Private E. Christian, 38000, of the Gloucestershire Regiment, had been wounded.
This was followed up in the Bexhill Observer on 22nd June 1918 with the following article:
“Lance-Corporal Ernest Christian, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Christian, of 35, Windsor-road, has been on hospital leave after being gassed and wounded twice in France and Italy. He returned to his unit at Sittingbourne on Tuesday.
The Medal Roll Index Cards showing his regiment numbers and regiments state that he was awarded both the Victory Medal and the British Medal. He appears to have been discharged from the Services on 12th August 1919.