George Christie was the son of William and Elizabeth Christie. He was born on 5th May 1884 in Kilmaloda, County Cork. He was one of ten children, nine surviving. William Christie was a National School Teacher. The family moved around quite a lot. By 1911, the family were living at Cavanreagh, near Draperstown. Shipwright 2nd Class George Christie was serving on board the Royal Navy light cruiser H.M.S. Amphion, when it hit and a mine and sunk in North Sea on Thursday 6th August 1914. It is not known if George ever lived in Draperstown.
Further Information
George Christie was the son of William and Elizabeth Christie. William Christie and Elizabeth Thorpe were married on 21st March 1878 in the district of Coleraine. They were both born in County Londonderry.
Their first child, Sarah, was born on 10th June 1880 in Articlave, Coleraine.
George Christie was born on 5th May 1884 in Kilmaloda, County Cork. He was one of ten children, nine surviving.
William Christie was a National School Teacher. The family moved around quite a lot.
By 1895 the family were living in County Wexford.
The 1901 census lists George as age 16, living with the family at house 6 in Clonoulty Church Quarter, Clonoulty East, County Tipperary.
The family later moved to Dublin.
Known Family: William Christie, Elizabeth Christie, Sarah A Christie (born 10th June 1880, Articlave, Coleraine), George Christie (born 5th May 1884, Kilmaloda, County Cork), Fanny Christie (born about 1886, Cork), Stephen Christie (born about 1890, Cork), James A Christie (born about 1892, Cork), Fred G Christie (born about 1895, Wicklow), Janie Christie (born about 1900, Dublin), May Christie (born about 1906, Dublin).
The 1911 census does not list George as living with the family at house 4 in Cavanreagh, The Six Towns, County Londonderry.
George Christie enlisted with the Royal Navy on 6th June 1902.
George was a carpenter and served on many ships.
He joined the crew of the Royal Navy light cruiser H.M.S. Amphion on 8th April 1913.
Shipwright 2nd Class George Christie was serving on board H.M.S. Amphion when it hit and a mine and sunk in North Sea on Thursday 6th August 1914.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 15th August 1914:
The name of a man, Christie, believed to be the son of a National school teacher in Draperstown district, appeared in the list of sailors who went down with the Amphion. A brother of the deceased left Draperstown last week to join his ship for active service.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 22nd August 1914: The Amphion Disaster – Interesting Story
The official bureau has issued a graphic account of the disaster resulting in the sinking of the Amphion. Some trawlers sighted the German mine-layer, and on their report, the British destroyers were able to locate and sink her. On returning, the destroyers altered their course somewhat to avoid the danger zone, but at 6:30 am the Amphion struck a mine. The force of the explosion rendered the captain momentarily insensible, but when he recovered he ran to the engine room to have the engines stopped. At the moment of the explosion, the Amphion was steaming twenty knots an hour. Efforts were made to tow her to the nearest harbour, but apparently her back had been broken in the explosion as she commenced to settle down. Immediate steps were taken to have the wounded removed to some of the sister destroyers. Twenty three minutes after the captain, who was the last to go, had left her, there was another explosion which blew up the entire fore part of the vessel, and it is believed this was caused by a second mine exploding at the fore magazine. One Amphion shell was thrown on the deck of another destroyer, killing two of our men and one German prisoner. Throughout the entire period of excitement, our bluejackets’ conduct was admirable.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 21st November 1914:
Mr William Christie, teacher of the Sixtown School, Draperstown, has the right to take notable pride in the part his family is playing in the fighting forces of the Empire. His eldest son, Sergeant John Christie, of the Royal Army Medical Corps, was through the Battles of Mons and was missing for a day and a night, owing to getting detached from his company in a dense fog in a turnip field. He luckily regained his party, and is still at the front. Mr Christie’s second son, Bob, is a first class gunner in the Royal Navy, and is at present in Devonport, and his third son, Fred, who was also in the Senior Service, died at his post on the ill-fated Amphion. Another son, George, a private in the Inniskillings, is in Ebrington Barracks, Londonderry, awaiting orders for active service. Lance Corporal Blakeman, of the Worcesters, Mr Christie’s son-in-law, has been recommended for the Victoria Cross owing to his having captured a maxim gun from the enemy. Only Blakeman (who was severely wounded and was laid up with concussion of the brain and a knee injury) and another comrade returned from the expedition. Lance Corporal Blakeman has so far recovered.
Shipwright 2nd Class George Christie has no known grave and is commemorated on Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Much has been written on HMS Amphion as she was the first ship of the Royal Navy to be sunk in the war, meaning that George Christie was one of the first casualties of the entire war. Such is the importance of this ship that the wreck site is protected and may not be dived upon without permission from the Ministry of Defence.
Another brother also served in the Royal Navy. This is believed to have been Fred Christie.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 5th August 1916: Draperstown
F Christy, Draperstown, is officially reported wounded and missing. His brother was lost in a naval battle.
It is not known if George Christie ever lived in Draperstown.
