Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Distinguished Conduct Medal

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When advancing with his battery to a new position, three horses of his gun team and his own horse were killed by enemy shell fire. He immediately replaced these casualties in spite of continuous heavy shelling, and brought his gun into action, displaying remarkable coolness and setting a fine example to his men.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 76
Date: 23 May 1918

STOOD TO HIS GUN
For devotion to duty, Sergeant John Christie, of the 116th Howitzer
Battery, 1st Division, Australian Imperial Forces, who enlisted short
ly after the outbreak of the war and left Victoria with the first contingent, has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
He was in charge of a gun when his company went galloping into 
action under the most terrilic burst ing of enemy shells. Some of the
guns had become stuck in shell holes, and Sergeant Christie's gun
was the 'only one in action. It was owing to his having stood to his gun and kept up a continuous fire under extreme danger from the heavy shell fire of the enemy that he was recommended for the decoration. Sergeant Christie came through the Gallipoll campaign without injury. He then went to France, and was wounded at Pozieres. After his recovery he returned to his military duties at the front, and was gassed after having won the Medal. He is, however, now out of hospital, and at the Australian base. Sergeant Christie, prior to his enlistment, lived with his parents at Northcote. Mr R. Christie (Sergeant Christie's brother) is also attached to the 116th Howitzer Battery, and is in the Western Hospital, Liverpool, suffering from the effects of gas. Their parents' present address is 1 Raleigh street, Thornbury.