St. CLAIR, Christopher Fenwicke

Christopher was the fourth son of James and Frances St Clair.  His birth was registered at Bundarra in 1882.  He attended The Armidale School during the 1890s.  During 1913 he married Ethel Cheesbrough and subsequently had two children. Prior to his enlistment at Inverell in June 1917 he was a Grazier at Nullamanna and had been a member of the Artillery.

He joined the 34th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement which departed Australia on HMAT A16 Port Melbourne and arrived in England in September 1917.  He was appointed Acting Corporal and spent some of the next few months in hospital before being sent to France on 1 August 1918. 

On 21 August he was transferred to the 14th Field Artillery Brigade and just three days later was killed in action by a bomb dropped from enemy aircraft. His remains were buried at Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, France and his personal effects returned to his wife.

Gunner Christopher St. Clair is remembered at Inverell where his name is recorded on the town’s Honor Roll and Cenotaph. In 1919 a tree was planted in his memory in Kurrajong Parade Inverell.  His name is also recorded on Honor Rolls at Myall Creek, Nullamanna and at the Inverell Anglican Church.

Christopher’s brother, Harold, also enlisted in 1917 and served in Palestine with the 12th Light Horse.  He returned home in April 1919 and his name is recorded on the Delungra Roll of Honor.