Christie, Charles MacGillicuddy

Private Charles MacGillicuddy Christie

Christie was born at Gortin, Co. Tyrone on 2nd February 1884 to William James Christie, Clerk in Holy Orders and Maud Christie nee Waters. 

Wm James Christie, Clerk in Holy Orders married Sarah Matilda Waters on 21st August 1872 at Carrick-on-Shannon.

The couple had 8 children:

• Sadie on 27th July 1873,
• George Cecil on 12th September 1874;
• William Samuel on 18th March 1878,
• Arthur on 21st April 1881,
• Maude on 13th June 1882, died 9th December 1883,
• Charles on 2nd February 1884,
• Robert Harry Campbell on 27th February 1885,
• Frances Maud on 21st April 1887,

Schooling for Christie was at Campbell College, Belfast between February 1900 and April 1902. His religion is recorded as Episcopalian.

The 1901 Irish Census records Christie (17) as a Campbell College boarder living in house 2.4, Ballycloughan, Ballyhackamore, Belfast. 

In 1901 Christie's parents, William James Christie (Rector, Church of Ireland, 54) and Florence Margaret (47) and his sister, Frances Maud (13) are living in Moyle Glebe, Co. Tyrone. An aunt, Lily Gertrude Cuddy (60) and a servant, Ellen Mills (23) are also living in the property.

I wonder if Maud Christie nee Waters (births above), Sarah Matilda Waters (marriage above) and Florence Margaret Christie (census above) are the same person. The connection being William James Christie, Clerk in Holy Orders / Rector)

Christie joined the Belfast Banking Company with his father signing his Bankers Guarantee for him. His address is recorded as The Rectory, Newtownstewart. George Cecil Christie (brother) of 4 Ashdale Road, Terenure, Dublin later signed the guarantee.

Belfast Bank Bankers Guarantee ledger sheet

The Campbell College book ‘The Campbellian’ (Volume IV, Page 73) records Christie as working for the Belfast Bank and later for the Canadian Bank of Commerce.

Christie's father, William (Clerk in Holy Orders, 60) died on 10th February 1907 at 1 Hargrove Terrace, Dublin South.

By 1911, Christie (27) was boarding with a Isabella Armstrong (46) in house 6, Newington Terrace, Rathmines & Rathgar East, Dublin. He is described as a Bank Official and his religion Church of Ireland. There were 3 other boarders with ages 45, 71 & 80.

Belfast Bank, College Green, Dublin branch

Christie was working in College Green, Dublin when he volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) as a Private with Service Number 106604. His Service Records from 12th January 1916 still exist:

C M Christie - Extract Service Record 1

C M Christie - Extract Service Record 5

C M Christie - Extract Service Record 8

C M Christie - Medal Index Card

C M Christie - Medal Roll

Christie serving with the 69th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) when he was killed in action on 18th August 1917 aged 33 (died of his wounds). He is buried in the Brandhoek New Military Cemetery Number 3, Belgium.

Christie is remembered on Ireland's WW1 Casualties:

The Army 'Register of Soldier's Effects records:

Probate of the Will was granted at Dublin to George W Christie, Bank Official. Christie's effects were £145 17s 1d.