Corporal Jack Owen CHRISTIAN
4th Dismounted Rifles (1st Southern Rifles)

Date of birth: 20th July 1890
Date of death: Unknown

Died
Unknown
Jack Owen Christian was born at Kragga Kamma Farm, Port Elizabeth in South Africa on the 20th of July 1890 the only son of Owen Smith Christian and Constance Mary (nee Kingsmill) Christian of Kragga Kamma Farm.

He was educated at Hazelwood School until December 1903 where he was a member of the Football XI in 1903. The school wrote the following on his season that year: - "(Full back) Kicks strongly with his right, but has little dexterity; might with advantage adopt a more robust method of defence."

He went on to Eton College where he was in Mr. P. William’s House from January 1904 to July 1906.

On leaving school he returned to South Africa where he served as a Corporal in the 4th Dismounted Rifles (1st Southern Rifles). The unit saw action in the Botha uprising in 1914 and in German South West Africa in 1915.

Has was married to Anne Gwendoline Kerstina (nee Green) and lived at White River in the Transvaal. They had two children, Owen Michael Kingsmill, born on the 23rd of March 1919 and Jack Laurence Kingsmill, born on the 17th of May 1922 who was killed in action in Italy on the 23rd of July 1944 while serving with the General Service Corps, South African Army attached to the 2nd Battalion King’s Liverpool Regiment.

In later life he lived at 3 Sunningdale, Western Road, Port Elizabeth, Cape Province in South Africa.

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