CHRISTIAN, Robert Lloyd
| Service Number: | S27254 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 March 1941, Minnipa, SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Port Lincoln, South Australia, 30 March 1921 |
| Home Town: | Yaninee, Wudinna, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Cleve, South Australia, Australia, 23 May 2017, aged 96 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Cleve Cemetery, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia Plot F12 |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 20 Mar 1941: | Involvement Private, S27254 | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Minnipa, SA | |
| 20 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, S27254 | |
| Date unknown: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, S27254 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Trevor Pyatt
Robert Lloyd "Bob" Christian
30 March 1921 – 23 May 2017
Early Life and Family Background
Robert Lloyd Christian, known throughout his life as "Bob," was born on 30 March 1921 at Port Lincoln, South Australia. He was the son of Frederick Edwin Christian and Daisy Elizabeth Sibly. His birth was registered in the Flinders district of South Australia.
Bob grew up on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula during the difficult years between the two World Wars. Raised within a rural farming environment, he became part of a generation shaped by resilience, practical skills, and strong family values. His later military records describe him as a share farmer living at Yaninee near Minnipa, reflecting his close ties to the agricultural communities of the western Eyre Peninsula.
Second World War Service
During the Second World War, Bob enlisted in the Australian Military Forces (Citizen Military Forces) on 20 March 1941 at Minnipa, South Australia. He was allocated the service number S27254 and was associated with the 48th Battalion.
His attestation papers record that he was nineteen years old at the time of enlistment, single, employed as a share farmer, and living at Yaninee. His father, Frederick Edwin Christian, was listed as his next of kin.
The surviving National Archives of Australia records provide a detailed snapshot of Bob as a young rural South Australian entering military service in wartime Australia. His enlistment and oath forms confirm that he was medically assessed as fit for Class I service and formally swore the Oath of Enlistment in March 1941.
The records also preserve small but valuable personal details. Bob noted that he could ride horses, drive motor vehicles and lorries, and work with farm machinery — practical abilities common among young men raised in farming districts during the period.
Although the surviving summary file is brief and does not record extensive overseas operational service, Bob's enlistment reflects the contribution made by thousands of South Australians who served through the Citizen Military Forces during the war years.
Marriage to Jean Pope
On 16 February 1944, Bob married Jean Christian (née Pope) at the Office of the Principal Registrar in Flinders Street, Adelaide.
Jean had been born on 29 November 1920 at Eba, South Australia, the daughter of Bertie Pope and Mary Riggs. She grew up within another Eyre Peninsula family closely connected to rural South Australian life.
Family Life
Bob and Jean shared more than sixty years of marriage together. They raised a family including Graeme, Fred, Marjory, Janice, Meredith, and Terry, and over time became grandparents and great-grandparents to a large extended family.
The family notices published following Bob's passing reflected the enormous affection held for him by children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren alike. He was remembered as a devoted husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, and great-grandfather whose family remained at the centre of his life.
His funeral notice described him as:
"Much loved Pa" and "Cherished Great Pa of 19."
The notice also reflected the family's gratitude toward the staff of Cleve Hospital for the professional and compassionate care given to Bob during his final illness.
Life in Cleve and the Eyre Peninsula
Bob and Jean became closely associated with the Cleve district on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula.
Bob was remembered as a gentle, dependable, and caring man whose strength lay not in public recognition but in his lifelong devotion to family and community.
Jean passed away on 10 July 2006 at the age of 85. Her death marked the end of a partnership that had lasted more than six decades.
Passing and Burial
Robert Lloyd "Bob" Christian passed away peacefully on 23 May 2017 at the age of 96.
His funeral service was held in Cleve on Wednesday 31 May 2017.
Bob was laid to rest beside Jean beneath a polished granite memorial inscribed with the words:
"Forever in our hearts."
Their shared headstone stands as a lasting tribute to a long marriage, enduring family devotion, and a lifetime spent within the Eyre Peninsula community they loved.
Sources
National Archives of Australia — Service Record: Robert Lloyd Christian, Service No. S27254, Series B884.
South Australian Birth Registration: Robert Lloyd Christian, born 30 March 1921, Flinders District, Book 73A/Page 333.
South Australian Marriage Registration: Robert Lloyd Christian and Jean Pope, married 16 February 1944, Adelaide District, Book 466/Page 669.
South Australian Birth Registration: Jean Pope, born 29 November 1920, Kapunda District, Book 68A/Page 62.
The Advertiser (Adelaide), death and funeral notices for Robert Lloyd Christian, published 26 May 2017.
The Advertiser (Adelaide), death and funeral notices for Jean Christian, published July 2006.
Biography by Trevor Pyatt 10/05/2026