CHAMPION, Christopher Henry Duncan
| Service Number: | 637 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 July 1915, C Company |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Launceston, Tasmania, 15 September 1892 |
| Home Town: | Jandowae, Western Downs, Queensland |
| Schooling: | The Kings School, Parramatta |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Gun Shot Wound (Head), France, 14 April 1918, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension Plot VI Row A Grave 3 Re-interred in 2005, Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul, Nord Pas de Calais, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bungendore WW1 Roll of Honour, Bungendore War Memorial, Jandowae War Memorial, Sydney St. James Anglican Church Roll of Honor WWI |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 637, 30th Infantry Battalion, C Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 637, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 637, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney | |
| 16 Nov 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 30th Infantry Battalion | |
| 12 Mar 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 12 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 29 Jun 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 29 Sep 1917: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, Third Ypres, For courage & devotion to duty & able leadership of Company | |
| 14 Apr 1918: | Involvement Lieutenant, 637, 3rd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 637 awm_unit: 3 Battalion awm_rank: Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1918-04-14 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Christopher Henry Duncan CHAMPION was born on 15th September, 1892 in Launceston, Tasmania
His parents were Arthur Hammerton CHAMPION and Mary Celia DUNCAN
He enlisted in Liverpool, NSW on 20th July, 1915 and embarked with the 30th Battalion, C Company on 9th November, 1915 on the HMAT Beltana
He was Killed in Action on 14th April, 1918 and his body was never found until 2003 when a farmer found several bodies buried in a field near the village of Merris in France (see link to ABC story for further details)
He was re-interred in the Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension in France on 22nd April, 2005 (Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery)
His name is memorialised on the Australian War Memorial & he was Mentioned in Dispatches in 1917 for Courage & devotion to duty and able leadership of Company) - he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
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His brother 2nd Lieutenant Geoffrey Servante CHAMPION (SN583) was also killed in action 25th July 1916 at Pozieres and another brother Lieutenant Arthur CHAMPION (1st Battalion) returned to Australia in 1916
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THE AUSTRALIAN BIOGRAPHICAL - news article
The late Lieutenant Christopher Champion.
The Reverend A. H. Champion, Rector of Bungendore, NSW and for some time headmaster of the Launceston Church Grammar School & the Kings School, Parramatta, has been notified of the death of his son, Lieut. Christopher Henry Duncan Champion, in action in France on April 14.
He was 25 years of age and a grandson of the late Dr. H.D. Champion of Port Adelaide.
An elder brother Capt. Arthur Champion was wounded in the landing at Gallipoli & again in France and is now discharged and in command of the 8 Coy, 2nd District Guard.
His youngest brother Lieutenant Geoffrey Champion was killed in July, 1915
Click images to start slideshow.