Name
Paul Norman Jones Christie
18 Apr 1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/10/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st/2nd Bn.
"C" Coy,
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 48 to 50 and 162A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Bengeo School Memorial. Location TBC., Broxbourne Town Memorial, St Augustine’s Church Memorial, Broxbourne, Individual plaque, St Augustine’s Church, Hoddesdon, Hoddesdon and Rye Park Town Memorial, St Catherine and St Paul’s Church Memorial, Hoddesdon, Not on the Much Hadham memorials, St Peters Church, Carmarthen, Wales, Britain School & University Memorial Rolls 1914-1918 (Eton)
Pre War
Paul Norman Jones Christie was born on 18th April 1898 in St Dunstans Road, Fulham, London and baptised on 3 Jul 1898, to parents Major Octavius Francis and Christobel Frances (nee Cay), he had three sisters and one brother.
In 1901 aged two he was living with his family at Queens Hill Hertford, Herts, and later at Much Hadham. His father’s employment is recorded on the census as a brewer and employer.
Paul was in the OTC at Eton between 1912 & 1915 during which time he made Lance Corporal. There was concern in 1913 when Paul fell and cut his knee and it turned to septic arthritis, it took so long to heal that he may not have passed the army medical.
He applied to the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst whilst underage and had to wait until 17th May 1916; he had just reached 19 years old when he graduated as an Officer.
Wartime Service
Entered the army on 17th March 1916 straight from RMA Sandhurst at the age of 19. In late April 1917 he joined the Bedfordshire Regiment and went to the third battalion based at Landguard, (Felixstowe) in May for a short time.
He sailed to France in June and arrived on 25th after further training he joined with the 1st Battalion in the line on 16th July. The battalion were resting after the Battle of Arras where they were heavily involved. He spent a week on a sniping course and returned to his unit just in time for a move North to the Ypres sector where Paul experienced his first and sadly last action. On 4th October the Bedfords were in support at the Battle of Broodseinde but were not called into action, they spent the next few weeks digging in along the Ypres-Menin road until the opening of the battle for Poelcapelle on the 9th October in pouring rain. Paul was killed instantly when a shell exploded in front of him as he directed his company’s fire against German positions at Gheluvelt. Ten further officers and the RSM plus about 100 other ranks were killed on the same day as they held their positions.
Paul was buried near Veldhoek on the Ypres-Menin road itself but his grave was lost during the battle so he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Two of the items returned to his parents on 26th October were broken, his glasses (still in their case) and a watch that his father had given to him. It is assumed they must have been on his person when he fell. They were living at Culver Lodge, Much Hadham, Herts.
Additional Information
His Father was in the Hertfordshire Territorial Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment. A number of letters which Paul sent home to his parents during his time in service are reproduced at www.bedfordregiment.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Richard Barber, Malcolm Lennox, “Lest We Forget – Much Hadham 1914-18” by Richard Maddams - Much Hadham Forge Museum, Ann Hacke, Terry & Glenis Collins
