Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Christian the son of Christian BOOCKMEYER & Annie Gertrude PERCY and was born on the 17th of October 1897 in Nairne, SA.

Christian & Annie were married at the residence of Annie’s parents in Nairne, SA on 02.12.1885.

Christian’s father was the son of H R BOOCKMEYER and was born in February 1854 in Bremen, Germany.
His mother was the daughter of Roger PERCY & Grace SLOGGETT and was born on 31.07.1863 in Nairne, SA.

Christian was the sixth child born into the family of 8 children.

His father was employed by the South Australian Railways and was in the maintenance department in Murray Bridge.

In March 1900 his father gained his Australian Naturalization.

In 1913 his parents purchased a house allotment on the corner of Easter Street (now Thomas Street) & the Old Princess Highway, Nairne (now 112 Old Princess Highway)

Christian attended the Nairne Public School and gained employment as a wood cutter.

On Tuesday evening the 10th of August 1915 a farewell supper and dance was held in the Nairne Oddfellows Hall for Christian & Royal Frank Fairclough on their departure to go into AIF camp.

At the age of 19, Christian enlisted into the AIF on the 11th of August 1915 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number 3234.
He listed his mother, of Nairne, as next of kin and she signed consent for him to enlist.
He was posted to the 16th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement on the 1st of September.

He embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A24 Benalla on the 27th of October 1915, disembarking in Egypt for further training.

Finally, after more than 3 years of service, on the 13th of March 1919, Christian embarked for England where he spent another 6 weeks before embarking for Australia on board the China on the 1st of May.
Christian disembarked in Adelaide on the 6th of June and was discharged on the 29th of July 1919.

On Saturday evening the 14th of June 1919 a welcome home was given to Christian in Nairne.

On the 26th of November 1919 his sister Florence married Daniel Horatio Algernon STEPHENS (AIF – 1919) in Nairne and Christian was the best man.

In January 1920 Christian attended the last welcome home social for returned soldiers in the Nairne Oddfellow’s Hall.

Christian became a carpenter and painter and by 1921 had moved to Barmera, but by 1923 he had moved to Kaniva, VIC, where his sister Florence and her family lived.

He had returned home to Nairne by 1930 and was living with his parents when his father died on the 2nd of October 1935.
Christian remained at home with his mother until they both moved to live with his sister Annie & her husband Percy Mitchell at 26 Alfred Street, Clarence Park.

His mother died on the 4th of December 1946 at their residence and Christian moved back to Nairne where he continued to be a carpenter and painter.
He remained in Nairne for a few years before relocating back to Adelaide.

Christian died on the 8th of September 1967 in Nailsworth
He was buried on the 4th of October 1967 in the Nairne Cemetery; Plot 220, with his parents.
Permit Number 93
Burial Number 718.
As of 25.07.2023 his grave is unmarked.

Military

At the age of 19, Christian enlisted into the AIF on the 11th of August 1915 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number 3234.
He listed his mother, of Nairne, as next of kin and she signed consent for him to enlist.
He was posted to the 16th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement on the 1st of September.

He embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A24 Benalla on the 27th of October 1915, disembarking in Egypt for further training.
In March he was posted to the newly formed 48th Battalion in Zeitoun, Cairo, Egypt which formed part of the 12th Brigade of the 4th Australian Division.
Within 7 days he was transferred to the 4th Division Artillery Battery, 24th Howitzer Brigade in Tel el Kibir.
He remained with the Howitzers for 2 months before being transferred to the 4th Divisional Artillery Column as a driver on the 23rd of May.

Each Division had an Ammunition Column to keep ammunition up to the guns by moving it from "Third line" storage up to the Front ("First Line"). It was a mammoth task involving motor and horse drawn transport, heavy and light rail and tramways. Ammunition dumps and transport near the Front Line were high priority targets of the enemy's guns, and later, aircraft. Horse drawn transport laden with ammunition is a doubly risky business. Horses were vulnerable to all forms of small arms and artillery and the cargo is such that a hit is generally catastrophic.

Christian and his unit embarked from Alexandrina on the 6th of June 1916 for France, disembarking in Marseilles 7 days later and moving to Estaires where they remained until moving to Steenweck via Fleurbaix in mid July.
In August they moved to their billets in Acquin where they spent the month in training before moving onto Vlamertinghe, Belgium and spending September, October & mid November here.
During this time Christian was involved in the Battles of Pozieres and Mouquet Farm.

By the end of November they were in Montauban and spent Christmas 1916 here.

Christian and his unit were then involved in the following battled in 1917 - 1st Battle of Bullecourt (11 April 1917), Messines (7-10 June 1917); Menin Road (20 - 25 September); Polygon Wood (26 September - 3 October 1917); 1st Passchendaele (12 October 1917);

Christmas morning 1917 started with bright weather, but by noon they had 4 inches of snow.

They had moved to Arras by March 1918 and took park in the battle on the 28th before moving 40 kilometres to Ancre. They took part in the following battles in 1918; Ancre (5 April 1918); Villers-Bretonneux (24 - 25 April 1918); Hamel (4 July 1918); Amiens (8 - 11 August 1918) and Albert (21 - 23 August 1918).

By November they had moved to Busigny and on the 2nd of November Christian was transferred to the 11th Field Artillery Brigade and posted to the 43rd Field Artillery Battery at Pommereuil.
Christian spent Christmas Day 1918 at Namur, Belgium.
Finally, on the 13th of March 1919, Christian embarked for England where he spent another 6 weeks before embarking for Australia on board the China on the 1st of May.

Christian disembarked in Adelaide on the 6th of June and was discharged on the 29th of July 1919.

He received his 1914/15 Star on 02.11.1920, British War Medal on 12.05.1921 & Victory Medal on 13.07.1923