Obituaries Australia

MR. G. B. CHRISTOE

Residents of the town and district of Hay received a profound shock on Monday morning last when it be came known that Mr. Gerald Blood Christoe had passed away during the night at the age of 54 years. Mr. Christoe held a commission as lieutenant in the Australian Military Forces, serving as part-time duty platoon commander and 2 I/C or 'E' company, 17th Battalion VDC at the time of his death. On the previous day, Sunday, April 23, he was on parade with the VDC and became ill during the course of the day and had to be taken home, where medical attention was at once forthcoming. He passed away during that night. In the last war Mr. Christoe served for three and a half years, gaining a commission in the 3rd Battalion. When he first came to Hay seven and a half years ago, as manager of the Bank of New South Wales, Mr. Christoe at once began to pull his weight in the public institutions of the town, and there has been no more enthusiastic or able patriotic worker during the war period than the deceased. He gave practical and efficient help to all the various organisations with which he was connected, working both with his head and his hands in their service. He was the honorary treasurer of the Hay and District Patriotic and War Fund, giving very practical help to the organisation. He was one of the executive and a most regular attender at the meeting and other functions of the Hay sub branch RSSAILA and was a committeeman of the Hay P. and A. Association. Mr. Christoe was the financial officer of the council of the Anglican Diocese of Riverina. Other organisations which will miss his practical help include the Hay Austerity Campaign Committee, the Hay Athenaeum, the Hay Horticultural As sociation, the Waradgery Club and of course, the VDC. He served on the executive of all these organisations.

The deceased was a son of the late N. F. Christoe, who was manager of the E., S. and A. Bank, Sydney, and he entered the service of the Bank of New South Wales at the age of 16. Before coming to Hay he was manager at Urana, Burrows and Parkes. Mrs. Christoe is a daughter of the late Mr. James Baylis, and a granddaughter of the late Mr. Henry Baylis, Police Magistrate, of Wagga, many years ago. Mr. Christoe will be remembered by old tennis players at Wagga. His funeral was largely attended after the Anzac service at Hay last Tuesday, at 4.30. For Mrs. Christoe, who was Miss Sybella Elizabeth Baylis, of Wagga, prior to her marriage in 1915, and their only son, Gunner J. F. Christoe, AIF, and only daughter, Sister Marie Christoe, AANS, both of whom are serving in New Guinea, much sympathy has been expressed in their sudden and sad loss. A brother and a sister live in Sydney.