Christopher May was born on Christmas Day 1878 in Merrow (near Guildford), Surrey, the 5th of 8 children born to William and Sara Ann May (Nee Watkins). Most of the males in Christopher's family were gardeners but Christopher seems to have his sights set elsewhere. At the age of 12 (according to the 1881 census), he was a golf caddy with his older brother Walter, who was 2 years his senior. 

In the 1901 census, Christopher is listed as a domestic groom (age 22). In 1907 Christopher married Helen Edith Fitzgerald in Weybridge, Surrey, where they set up home. Christopher was 10 years older than Helen, who was 18 at the time of their marriage. Christopher is stated as being a police constable in Merstham, Surrey. 

Helen and Christopher went on to have 5 children. Sadly, one of their sons Gerald died of diphtheria in Jan 1915 at the age of 7, just weeks before his new brother Basil was born in 1915. (My father Gerald was named after the little boy).

By 1911, Christopher and Helen were living in Horsham and Christopher was now an AA Patrol Man (complete with bicycle) and we have a letter showing he was promoted to sergeant with a substantial increase in his salary! 

Christopher's enlistment papers were destroyed in WW2, so we do not have a definite enlistment date. On Gerald May's Death Certificate (1915), his father is stated as 'At War', No 11317, Lance Corporal, First Southdown Battalion, West Sussex Regiment.

Christopher served with 11th Royal Sussex and was a Sergeant in 1916.

On 8th June 1916 he was at Cuinchy, Nord, Pas-de-Calais, France. We know this as he was 'awarded' a hip flask sent from Lieut. Edwin Chappell Kelihur for 'services rendered in No Mans Land on 8th June 1916'. Lieut. Kelihur was in Southdown Royal Sussex and had been shot twice in the neck and Christopher had helped to get him to safety. Lieut Kelihur also sent him a letter of thanks.

In 1917, Christopher was 39 and was transferred as 650462 to 303rd Prisoner of War Company, Labour Corps.

He survived the war but had been badly gassed which caused many subsequent health issues. He lived until 18 June 1920 when he died, age 41 in Woking, Surrey leaving 4 young children.

He is buried with a CWGC headstone in Old Woking Cemetery.