VALE ROBERT WILLIAM ‘BOB’ CHRISTIE OAM

VX48633, 2/29th Battalion AIF

‘Bob’ Christie, for that is how everyone knew him, passed away peacefully on 10th September 2014. He had reached the remarkable age of 97 years of ago.

Bob leaves behind his much loved family and a great life of service to his country, his community, his ex-POW mates and his church.

I first met Bob Christie in 2006, when I was just about to embark on the writing of a book about ex-POWs of the Thai Burma Railway. Both Bob and Berris welcomed me into their home and at the instant I walked into Bob’s office, I knew I was in the heart of our history and the history of the 2/29th Battalion Association. Bob was ordered and he had kept anything and everything about the men he had fought with and survived with on the Thai Burma railway. In their honour. As we were walking to the gate after our talk I mentioned how beautiful his house was and he said, ‘I was born in this house. In the front room, in fact.’ I came away from our meeting knowing I had met someone special.

Bob Christie loved and honoured the men he served with and he was never going to forget them. The service to celebrate Bob’s life at Malvern Presbyterian Church was packed, as Andrew Coffey, the son of one of Bob’s 2/29th mates Jack Coffey, commented to me later. And in typical form, Bob had requested no flowers, rather donations be made to Legacy.

When Bob was past 90 years of age he stood up on the dais of the Shrine of Remembrance, in front of a packed audience, to thank those for attending the launch of his book, ‘Surviving Captivity’. Bob had managed, at his great age, to write an account of his life, the Malay campaign he had fought in and his diary notes from the Line. The book was published in 2010 to wide acclaim. There is never any way to keep a good or a busy man down and Bob Christie was both.

Bob served in Singapore; he fought and men, his friends, fell by his side. Survival turned to capture through the horrors of the Thai Burma railway. Bob was a Signaller; he fought at the Battle for Muar, was captured and sent up the Line in Pond’s Party in F Force. If there can be any Force you did it worse on the Line than others, I will cope the abuse by saying that Pond’s Party has that accolade. Bob Christie came home and took up the position of Association Secretary of the 2/29th Battalion Association for over 60 years in order to closely remember, and help others to know of those men he knew so well. Bob was awarded the OAM in 2003 for service to veterans and their families. He cared for all until his death.

Throughout his life, Bob Christie loved his cricket and prior to the war he worked in the insurance industry. At Bob’s funeral, his family recounted how their father’s first position was to light the fires in the city building fireplaces of that insurance company. Post war he returned to work within the same company and moved into a very senior position within the firm.

One of the sweetest things Bob ever said to me was during the launch of my book at the Shrine. It was a staggering busy day, with people in every direction wanting to catch my attention, but Bob stood there with Berris until the coast was clear and he said, ‘Thank you Pattie. You have done a great thing for the POWs this day.’ I was honestly overwhelmed by his comment, and perhaps cannot even now put into words how I felt about his graciousness, but I knew Bob meant every word; and I have never forgotten it. My comment to him then, as now, is ‘No….it’s not you who should thank me, rather the reverse.’ So thank you Bob Christie.

The Association would like to extend their condolences to Berris, Robert, Janella, Shan, Sarah and Ashley at the loss of a terrific fellow. Please know that we will miss Bob at our functions.

Pattie Wright with thanks to Andrew Coffey – 2/29th Battalion Association