Christie, John Alban, born 1921, the son of Harold Alban Christie and Edith Margaret Christie of Wallington. 
He was married to Joyce Madeleine Christie of Wallington.Christie was the commander of Support Troop. According to the Roll of Honour published by the Society of Friends of the Airborne Museum (Jan Hey 2011) Christie was given a field burial 100 metres west of the Hartenstein Hotel, 
the headquarter of Generel Robert Elliott “Roy” Urquhart . 
The author of the book Remember Arnhem (John Fairley) wrote about Lieutenant Christie on page 118. He write how the vehicles of the Reconnaissance Squadron “The Recce Corps” 
Motto(s), “Only The Enemy In Front”. “Reconnaissance regiment” drew up on the north side of the Utrechtseweg 
just after 2.30 in the afternoon of 20 september. Shortly afterwards word came through that a German Self Proppeled gun 
had appeared at Oosterbeek crossroads and appeared to be turning in the direction of Hartenstein. At that moment two squadron vehicles were hit and each set on fire. It is unclear if they were hit by the SP gun or by mortars. “the initiative was immediately taken by Lieutenant John Christie, OC Support Troop, who saw an opportunity for action with one of his Polsten guns. Speedily, he collected a jeep party, which included Troopers Drinkwater, Watson and Bateman and, with the Polsten in tow, they drove out on to Utrechtseweg and turned in the direction of the crossroads. It now seems likely that Christie was probably looking for an advantageous tactical position, in order to site his gun. Whatever his intentions may have been, they were never carried out for, as the jeep drew level with the Hartenstein Hotel, it came under enemy fire. The first shot missed, and the men were able to jump off the vehicle and scatter for cover. Christie then ran back to the jeep, started it up, and began to turn it, with the gun in tow, in order to get it off the road.Lieutenant-Colonel Charles MacKenzie, 
Urquhart’s senior staff officer, who was standing by the side of the main road saw what happened next: “Just then, there was a loud explosion on the vehicle. I’ve no idea where it came from, although it seemed to me to be a mortar bomb rather than a shell from the SP gun. Whatever it was, it struck Christie full in the chest, and took an arm, as well as part of his shoulder and chest away. Both vehicle and Polsten gun were destroyed, but the astonishing thing was that he actually got out of the jeep, and ran for several yards along the road.” Despite his terrible injuries, John Alban Christie managed to reach the cover where his men were, and it was there that Bill Bateman sought to comfort him. Seconds later, as he died in Bateman’s arms, Christie’s last words were, “Oh, my God! Oh, my God!”.
“Bill” Bateman enlisted on the 18th September 1941. After he had completed his basic training and been posted to his unit, The Dorset Regiment he volunteered for Airborne Forces. He was personally interviewed by Major Freddie Howard Gough 
and accepted into the 1st Airlanding Reconnaissance Squadron in 1942. He was posted to “B” Troop, under the command of Captain A. J. Waterman, and saw service with the Squadron in North Africa and Italy, before returning to the United Kingdom. Major Gough survived the war and died, age 76 on 19-09-1977 in Sorrento
Christie, John Alban after a temporary grave 
is buried at the Oosterbeek British war cemetery, Plot 1. Row A. Grave 19.
.
Leave a Reply