Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Charles Wilfred Christiansen was born 6 Dec 1931 at Wooroolin the son of Wilfred Christiansen and Marie Rackermann. His grandmother, Maren Christiansen, was one of the 7 local ladies on the first all-female committee in Qld (and perhaps Australia) along with Mrs Campbell mentioned in the story on TC (Charlie) Campbell. Charles is the cousin of the Erichsen lads, Keith, Roy & Wilf also on the Wooroolin WW11 Honour Board. By the time Charles was 4 years old his parents had moved to Jutland farm, Goomeri where he would probably have attended school.
Charles joined the Australian Army on 7 Jan 1942, aged 20 years at Brisbane. He was living at Red Hill, Kingaroy at the time and had to get his father’s permission as under 21 years. His army records are available on the NAA website and show that was enlisted with the 2/1st Docks Operating Company. After training at Redbank for a few months Charles was sent to Northern Territory, in Nov 1942, where he was graded as a Winchman. I found a photo on the AWM website of Royal Australian Engineers working the winches on a ship in Darwin Harbour and have included it in this story even though Charles is not in it. My understanding is that the Docks Operating Coy are responsible for unloading the troops and equipment from ships as well as improving the port facilities.
By Jul 1943 Charles was sent to Port Moresby where he remained until Jul 1944. On return he was hospitalised several times and eventually diagnosed with duodenal ulcer. He was discharged on 19 Feb 1945 at Redbank.
Charles married Marjorie Dulcie McIntyre about 1946 and they lived at “Stanhope” the Christiansen family home on Wellers Rd, Wooroolin in 1949. By 1958 they were farming at Mundubbera until at least 1980.
Charles died in 2001 and is buried at Tanderra Lawn Cemetery, near Chinchilla where his wife joined him 4 years later.
Lest We Forget