52 Ancestors: Remembering Vimy Ridge: James Christie (1894-1917)

April 9, 2014 was the 97 anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge. When I saw a news article reminding me of this fact it started me thinking about my Great Uncle James Christie who died during this battle. I have been wanting to write about him for a while now but I wanted to I have access to his service file first (it is currently out of circulation and being digitized by Library and Archives Canada). The news article really impacted me and compelled me to change directions on who I was going to write about this week. Here is my story about my Great Uncle James Christie who died fighting so we could be free and in the process became an important part of Canadian history.

James Christie was born on Feb 3, 1894 in Bathurst, Gloucester County, New Brunswick, Canada. He was the 8th child  (like his father) of Alexander Christie and Margaret Legacy. He lived and worked as a labourer in the South Tetagouche area of Bathurst until his enlistment. On May 17, 1916 (approximately 2 years after the start of WW1 and before the draft in Canada), when James Alexander Christie was 22 years old he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces (C.E.F.) in Bathurst, New Brunswick and was assigned to the 73rd Reg. or the 132 C.E.F. (North Shore) Battalion. What made him decide to enlist for overseas duties? Did he discuss his decision with his parents? His parents must have been proud and worried about him heading overseas to war. They must have been concerned that they would never seen their son again, especially with no end to the war in sight. I wonder if they had a big family gathering to send him off or was it just a quite affair or nothing at all?

I have never seen a picture of James but his enlistment medical does allow me to paint a limited mental picture of him. At the time of his enlistment James was 5 feet 11 1/2 inches tall with a 38 1/5 inch chest, he had a medium complexion, black hair and hazel blue eyes. The medium complexion and hazel blue eyes describes my siblings and I although no black hair inmy family my brothers are near this height.

James had never had any previous military training, and even if he did, I can assume that he would have been sent on training. Where would have the training taken place? In Chatham, New Brunswick where the 132 Battalion was based or in Sussex or Saint John, New Brunswick where there were training camps already established? Maybe his service records will tell me, when I am able to view them. James would have probably continued his training until some time in October when his Battalion would have been sent to Halifax where they embarked on a ship on October 26, 1916 for England and the start of their actual participation in WW1. The 132 Battalion was used for reinforcements in the field when they first arrived overseas, without James' service records I don't know how much or how little field action he would have been involved in. Sometime in early 1917 James along with other members of the 132 were sent/transferred to the 87th Grenadier Guards in France where they began trench warfare and were part of several battles leading up to the battle of Vimy Ridge. If you want to get an idea about what life in the trenches was like, visit the Canadian War Museum website, it was not an easy life for sure.

March 26, 1917 was the beginning of the training for the battle of Vimy Ridge. Training went on for 7 straight days during cold, wet and snowy spring weather. On April 3, 1917 the 87th Battalion was moved to the front lines back in the trenches in preparation for the Vimy Battle. James had so far managed to stay alive for almost a year after enlisting. I wonder if he knew how big this battle really was. Did he write one last letter home before entering into this battle?

James and every soldier in the 87th not only carried their rifle into battle but also: bombs, water, box respirator, helmet, tear gas goggles, wire cutters and a shovel. The 87th was tasked with being the first wave leading on the left side of the 11th Brigade. At 5:30am April 9, 1917, Easter Monday, James along with 519 other soldiers of the 87th Battalion began their assault at Vimy Ridge. By 5:45am every man within the 87th Battalion had left the assembly trenches and had gone forward into battle to the front lines which was full of shell hoes filled with water. At the end of the Vimy Battle the 87th has suffered 157 wounded, 110 killed and 25 missing. James was one of the men listed as missing in action, later to be confirmed dead.

Canada, War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty), 1914-1948

James' parents must have been devastated when they were informed on his death. Did they receive a telegram or a letter? Did they have a picture to remember him by? Did they hold some sort of service in his memory? Did they know where he was buried in France?

Pte. James Alexander Christie is remembered by many for the ultimate sacrifice he gave to us. Please take a minute and remember him while you view his name on the Book of Remembrance and the Vimy Memorial pictured below.

Page 216 Book of Remembrance

Vimy Memorial - Vimy
Departement du Pas-de-Calais
Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France