Roy CHRISTEY

CHRISTEY, Roy

Service Number: 14735
Enlisted: 11 May 1917, Sydney, New South Wales
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 3rd Field Bakery: AIF
Born: Redfern, New South Wales, Australia, 5 February 1902
Home Town: Leichhardt, Leichhardt, New South Wales
Schooling: Redfern Public and Leichhardt High
Occupation: Baker
Died: Stroke, Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia, 16 January 1957, aged 54 years
Cemetery: Botany General Cemetery, New South Wales
Rose Garden A5
Memorials:
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World War 1 Service

11 May 1917: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 14735, Sydney, New South Wales
31 Oct 1917: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 14735, 1st Australian Army Service Corps Company , HMAT Euripides, Sydney
31 Oct 1917: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 14735, 1st Australian Army Service Corps Company , Enlistment/Embarkation WW1
20 Oct 1918: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 3rd Field Bakery: AIF
8 Oct 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 14735, 3rd Field Bakery: AIF

Roy Christey

Born 05 Feb 1902 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died 16 Jan 1957 Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia

Parents: John Henry Christey & Sarah Ann Rebecca (nee Timmins)
Roy was the couple's fifth and third youngest child

Grandparents: John Christey & Elizabeth (nee Green)

Roy enlisted on 11 May 1917 giving his age as 18 years 4 months, when in actual fact he was 15 years 3 months. Occupation stated was a Baker.
It is poignant that this was just 8 days after his eldest brother John William Christey (Service No: 6056) had been killed in action in France. This fact I believe would not have been known to the family at that early stage.

Records reveal 'Permission is herewith accorded to permit my son, Roy Christey to embark for active service abroad, before he attains the age of nineteen years of age' (Duly signed by Parents) which would seem to be highly unlikely given his tender age.
Regardless Roy did in fact depart Sydney per A14 'Euripides' on 31st Oct 1917.
After arriving in England it is believed that his age was brought to the attention of officials and because he could not be returned to Australia was put to work in the Bakery in England where he stayed until 20 Sep 1918 before making his way over to France 23 Sep 1918 where he remained in the Army Service Corps 3rd Field Bakery until May 1919 before returning to England and his subsequent return to Australia per 'Chemnity arriving 08 Sep 1919 still underage at 17 years 7 months.
Roy married his young sweetheart Ellen 'Ruby' Traynor in 1927, the couple going on to have 3 children

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