Notes
His biography on the college website states: ‘Stephen Henry was born at Highfield in Bramhall, Cheshire, the younger son of Stephen Christy JP, hat manufacturer, and Blanche nee Chichester. He was educated at Harrow and Christ Church Oxford.
The hat-making firm of Christy & Company was founded by Miller Christie (1748 -1820). The works were in Bermondsey, London, and became known as the House of Christy. In 1826 Christy & Company bought out a firm of hat manufacturers in Stockport. A later member of the family to own the company was William Miller Christy and the firm became known as W M Christy & Sons Ltd. The success of this company was due to the manufacture of their Royal Turkish Towel, which was introduced at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and was favoured by Queen Victoria. Another successful introduction was the Terry Towel.
Stephen Henry joined the 20th Hussars on 20 December 1899, gazetted 2nd Lieutenant from the Militia, and served in the South African War in 1902 on the Staff, receiving four clasps to his medal. In 1903 he served in the Sokoto-Burmi operations in North Nigeria, winning the DSO, and being mentioned in dispatches. He was slightly wounded during the campaign. He married Violet a daughter of the late Mr. William Chapell-Hodge, of Pounds, South Devon, in 1905 and resigned his commission in the following year. In 1913 he was living at Plaish Hall and was Master of the South Shropshire Hounds. His wife Violet died in November 1913 and is buried in Cardington Parish Burial Ground, near the Church. Deeply affected by his wife's death, at the outbreak of hostilities Captain Christy at once volunteered for active service, and was fortunately able to rejoin his old regiment as second in command of B. Squadron. He took part in all the fighting during the earlier phase of the war which terminated in the Battle of the Marne, but did not live to see the recovery and advance of the Allied Armies, having been killed in action at Ussy near La Fert (about 30 miles from Paris) on 3 September.
The following account of his death is compiled from various letters received from eye-witnesses and others: “On September 3rd, when about five miles from Meaux, the officer in command of B. squadron, 20th Hussars, was ordered to cover the retirement of another squadron of the same regiment which was reported to have been heavily attacked. B. squadron held the enemy in check until the others had retired and was then ordered to fall back. They were subjected to a heavy shellfire and in consequence retired at a gallop in extended order, Captain Christy being on the left of the line. On reaching a farm, probably that of Caissy mentioned later, the Squadron was rallied, remaining there some hours, during which time Captain Christy chatted a good deal with the farmer and his people. At about 5 p.m. a hostile aeroplane was sighted, and shortly afterwards the enemy shelled the place to cover the advance of some Uhlans. B. squadron was ordered to retire across the River Marne at La Fert-sous-Jouarre, and while this was being done Captain Christy and his mare Kitty were both shot. There is every reason to suppose that death was instantaneous. It was some little while before the squadron commander learnt that this had occurred, and it was then impossible to go back. After the squadron had crossed the river the bridge at La Fert was destroyed in order to hinder the advance of the enemy.”
His Estate amounted to £98,764 10s 3d. Probate granted to Hugh Archibald Christy Esq and Thomas Cole Porter, Brigadier General Retired, His Majesty’s Army. The registered charity “Stephen Henry Christy For Reading Room, Caretaker’s Cottage And Nurses Home” was set up “for charitable purposes for the general benefit of the inhabitants of the ancient parish of Cardington”.