Christie, Hugh Patterson

Operation Plunder

Date of birth:: March 27th, 1920 (Saint John/New Brunswick, Canada)
Date of death:: March 25th, 1945 (Bienen/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)
Buried on:: Canadian War Cemetery Groesbeek
Plot: XVII. Row: G. Grave: 13.
Service number:: F/89357
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

Private
North Nova Scotia Highlanders, R.C.I.C.

Operation Plunder began in the night of 23/24 March 1945, the Rhine was crossed near Wesel and the troops moved further into Germany.
The North Nova Scotia Highlanders were ordered to go in the direction of the village of Bienen. It was strongly defended by a large number of machine guns. Without the possibility of using tanks and other vehicles in the narrow streets, the Canadians were an easy target for the anti-tank guns and panzers. The Wasp flamethrowers could have helped them but all three were out of order.
The Company advanced through fierce enemy fire coming from all directions. The men ran towards the Speldrop-Bienen road but 8 of them ran the other way, towards a house from which a German officer appeared; they shot and injured him. (He was lamed for life.) The German Platoon Sergeant Propokchuk was also injured, with a shot through both legs. Using his gun as a crutch, he dragged himself over the road in an attempt to help his commander.
The 24-year-old Private Hugh Patterson Christie took the initiative and together with his comrades, stormed the house. With four men, he attacked a machine gun position but was killed together with three others. His body was found later with one of his hands still on his machine gun.
Hugh died on 25 March in Bienen, two days before his 25th birthday.

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