Muchty Remembers

Born: 1892, Kilconquhar, Fife.

Son of Robert Christie, Ceres, and Jessie Black, Largo.

Army Number: S/4068

Rank: Private

Regiment: 8th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders.

Died: Killed in Action, France 25 September 1915. Aged not known. (23)

Buried: No known grave. Commemorated on Loos Memorial, Dud Corner Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 112 to 115.

War Memorial. Church Plaque. Photograph.

 

Andrew Christie was the 4th of 13 children of Robert Christie, born 1865, Ceres, a baker, and Jessie Black, b 1865, Largo.

In 1891 Robert senior was a baker living in Bridgend, Ceres, with his wife and four children, who had been born in Kemback and Kilconquhar, the youngest Andrew, just 10 months old. He was back at Kilconquhar until 1897, when the family moved to Leven, where Robert was born at 15 High Street. A year later they were living at Largo and in 1899 moved back to Ceres, where four more children were born.

In 1901 Robert senior was a baker at Bridgend Ceres. Two sons, Walter, born 1898, and Harry, born 1899, died young. Robert senior died about 1909.

In 1911 Robert senior's widow, Jessie Black Christie was living in Crosshills, Auchtermuchty, with 8 of her surviving 11 children. William, the eldest son was a labourer; two daughters were linen weavers and bleachers. Young Robert, 14 years old, was a bleacher, but Andrew, now 19 was away from Auchtermuchty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jessie Black, born 1865 Largo, was the eldest daughter of Jean Kilgour or Black, born Markinch, 1836. In 1881 Jessie was living in Dura Den Hamlet working at the flax mill, where she prepared flax. Her brother Andrew Adamson was a flax bundler and his sister Isabella was a flax spinner. Jessie married Robert Christie on 12 January 1886 at Kemback, close to Dura Den. Robert Christie senior was the son of George Christie, born 1835, Ceres, a coal merchant in 1881 and 1891 living at 13 Derby Street, Dundee, and Euphemia, born 1831, Falkland. Robert senior was the third of four children. George Christie was the eldest son of Robert Christie, born 1810, Ceres, a farm labourer, and Elizabeth, born 1806, Ceres. In 1851 George with his two brothers, William and David, were handloom weavers in Ceres.

 

Andrew Christie was killed on the first day of the Battle of Loos, 25 September 1915, along with two other men from Auchtermuchty. Though his body was identified, he was never buried. He was remembered at Loos Memorial, Dud Corner Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

 

AUCHTERMUCHTY MAN WOUNDED. Mrs Christie, Crosshills, Auchtermuchty, has received intimation that her son, Private Andrew Christie, Seaforth Highlanders, has been wounded.. FIFE NEWS. 9 October 1915.

KILLED IN ACTION - Last week Mrs Christie, Crosshills, received word through another Auchtermuchty soldier, Private Frank Dick, that her son, Private Andrew Christie, had fallen badly wounded. As this had taken place during a charge, Dick had lost trace of him. This week she has had a letter from a soldier sent out to identify the fallen, stating that her son was found dead, and enclosing the letters and photographs found on his person. Christie was a mason to trade, and enlisted in the Seaforths some months ago. Private Dicks was himself wounded, but is already out of hospital.

THE TOLL OF THE WAR - At the meeting of the Local Relief Committee, Provost Ferlie intimated that 92 persons from this parish had enlisted, of whom 68 were educated at Auchtermuchty School. Of these two have been killed and two are missing. Fife News. 15 October 1915.

One of the two missing soldiers was Private James Petrie, 1st Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, killed in Belgium on 11th November 1914. Three Auchtermuchty men were killed at the Battle of Loos - Sergeant William White, 9th Battalion The Black Watch; Private Andrew Christie, 8th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, and Captain John Fairlie, Highland Light Infantry.

 

Andrew Christie was the elder brother of William Christie, wounded in the leg, and Robert Christie, who died in 1917.