Francis Ernest Christianson
Rank:
Sapper
Serial No:
Serial No. 78
Regiment:
No. 1 Tunnelling Company
Suburb:
Campbelltown
Francis Ernest Christianson - Information
Francis Ernest Christianson was born and raised in Campbelltown. He enlisted in the AIF when he was 30 years old at Holsworthy in September 1915. While he was training, his wife Jessie was living in Concord. In ‘civie’ life, Francis worked as a quarryman and as a result, was placed with the No.1 Mining Corps. Francis' unit proceeded to Europe from Sydney on the HMAT Ulysses on the 20th of February 1916.
Francis arrived at Marseilles on the 5th of May and was presently taken to Hazebrouck. By the end of the year, after a stint in hospital, he was posted with No. 1 Tunnelling Company. His unit worked non stop making tunnels for mines, storage and uncovering enemy tunnels. This was a dangerous and strenuous job. Accidentally making the slightest noise could mean life or death. By May 1918, Francis was suffering with myalgia, and was invalided to England. After recuperating, he rejoined his unit in September just before the war ended. Francis left London aboard the Suffolk for his journey home on the 12th of April 1919.