Military Record

Christian departed from Norfolk Island on 12.1.1916 and enlisted in the AIF at Sydney on 27.1.1916. Following basic training he was posted to the Machine Gun Training Battalion at Randwick on 1.4.1916. He embarked for England on 14.4.1916.

Further training with Machine Gun Training Battalion at Grantham in England followed before he departed for France where he joined the 10th Machine Gun Company on 9.11.1917 at the Front near Ploegsteert.

Served at Front until he became ill on 17.11.1917 and following periods in hospital was evacuated to England on 4.3.1918. Following treatment he was declared fit and returned to France joining the 3rd Machine Gun Battalion on 28.11.1918 by which stage the Germans had surrendered on 11.11.1918.

Christian embarked for Australia on 11.5.1919 where he was discharged on 22.8.1919.

Medals - British War 1914/18, Victory.

Enlisted

No -  AIF  237

Rank - Private

Enlistment Date -  27.1.1916

Place - Sydney, NSW

Other Details – Mutta described as height 5 feet 7.5 inches (1.69m), weight 132lbs (60 kgs), complexion dark, eyes grey, hair black and chest 32-35inches (0.8 to 0.88m). Stated his religion C of E, occupation was given as farmer and he was not married. He gave his Next of Kin as “mother Steels Point Norfolk Island”, his postal address given as Adelaide Hotel Moore Park Rd. and he enlisted as Walter Christian.

Units Served

Training Depot from 27.1.1916 to 1.4.1916

1st Machine Gun Training Company 1.4.1916 to 9.11.1917

10th MG Company (later 3rd MG Battalion)  9.11.1917 to  22.8.1919

Locations Served

1916 - Norfolk Island

Departed Norfolk Island for Sydney by ship  12.1

Norfolk Islanders on same ship were:-

    C H Evans

    I L Quintal

    H S Snell

1916 - Australia

Enlisted in Sydney 27.1

Proceeded to Training Depot 27.1

Posted to 1st Machine Gun Training Company, Randwick  01.4

Embarked for overseas    14.4

1916 - England

From ship to Machine Gun Training Battalion, Grantham

Australian Machine Gun Training Depot was at Grantham east of Nottingham

Noted at Machine Gun Depot, Grantham    21.8

Became ill and was admitted to Hospital with Influenza  18.9

Admitted to Hospital   1.12

1917 - England

To Machine Gun Depot Grantham, Belton Park Camp from Hospital 12.1  

From Grantham he embarked at Folkestone for France 20.10

1917 - France/Belgium

Joined 10th Machine Gun Company in Line near Ploegsteert   9.11

10th Machine Gun Company was attached to 10th Brigade in 3rd Division

Admitted to Hospital from Line near Ploegsteert 17.11

1918 - France/Belgium

From Hospital rejoined 10th Machine Gun Company  Ploegsteert 27.1

3rd Division at that time as Support Division for Australia Corps

On rejoining unit became ill again and was admitted to Hospital   27.1

Diagnosed as suffering from Bronchitis

Despatched as an invalid to England on H S "Cambria"  04.3

1918 - England

Admitted from H S to Military Hospital at Boscombe England   04.3

New designation for 10th Machine Gun Company – 3rd Machine Gun Battalion

All MG Companies had been consolidated into a Divisional Battalion

From Hospital to Machine Gun Training Depot at Grantham

Armistice 11.11

From Machine Gun Training Depot embarked at Folkestone for France   28.11

1919 -France/Belgium

Attached Australian Base Depot, Le Havre    13.3

Detached from 3rd Machine Gun Battalion to HQ Australian Base Depot    15.3

Embarked on H T "Borda" for Australia    11.5

Discharged at 3 Military District, Melbourne  22.8

Decorations

        British War Medal 1914/18   (No.38147)

        Victory Medal    (37510)

Involvement with other Islanders 

- Brother of C S Christian (54th Battalion)

- F B Metcalfe (10th Field Ambulance) was with 10th Brigade but had died before Mutta joined it.

- J B Metcalfe (Australian Army Medical Corps) was posted to 10th Field Ambulance on 31.3.1918 until his death on 25.4.1918

- R E Quintal (40 Battalion) was killed 5 weeks before Mutta joined Brigade

Discharge

Discharged in Melbourne on 22 August 1919

Personal Details

Birth Date -  4 December 1897

Location - Norfolk Island

Parentage - Holder Brownell and Mary (nee Quintal) Christian who were married at Norfolk Island on 14 November 1893.

Marital Status - married, about 1926 in Sydney N S W

Partner - May Myrtle Skinner

Children - Swain Lawrence possibly born in Sydney 1927

Life Post Discharge -

Death Date -   16 December 1957,   Norfolk Island

Miscellaneous -

Described on enlisting in 1916 as height 5feet 7.5inches (1.72m), weight 132lbs (59.9kgs), complexion dark, eyes grey, hair black.

Stated his occupation as farmer.

British War

Medal

Victory Medal