The AIF Project

Orlando Julius CHRISTIAN

Regimental number2827
Place of birthKew, Victoria
SchoolKew State School, Victoria
ReligionBaptist
OccupationCar painter
AddressKew, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation23
Height5' 5"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinFather, A B Christian, 72 Pakington Street, Kew, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date7 July 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name8th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/25/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board SS Makarini on 15 September 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll59th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles)
Age at death25
Age at death from cemetery records24
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 16), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
167
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Orlando Henri Beater and Elizabeth CHRISTIAN, 72 Packington, Street, Kew, Victoria
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Transferred to Anzac from ANZAC Advance Base, Mudros, 6 December 1915; joined 8th Bn, Anzac, 7 December 1915.

Disembarked Alexandria, 7 January 1916.

Transferred to 60th Bn, 22 February 1916; taken on strength, Tel el Kebir, 24 February 1916.

Transferred to 59th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 15 March 1916; taken on strength of 59th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 15 March 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Posted missing, 19 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 29 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'.

Note on B.103, 'presumed buried in No Man's Land approx at 5J9043 to 5K0251 Sheet Hazebrouck 5a'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 730405, 7671 Lance Corporal A. COLLINS, B Company, 59th Bn (patient, No 9 General Hospital, Rouen), 9 November 1916: 'I was informed by Qrmr. Sergt. Christian of B Coy. that he had seen the body of O.J. Christian brought in at Fromelles on the 19th July and buried there.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, CHRISTIAN Orlando Julius
Red Cross file 730405

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