The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Company Sergeant Major A E Bristow

Photograph by "Thanos Foteinos"

Company Serjeant Major Alfred Ernest BRISTOW, L/6162, 2nd Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, attached 7th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, killed in action, shrapnel right shoulder, Struma River North of Karadzakoj, with Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force, 5th September, 1916, age 35.

1880, born Shoreham, Sevenoaks, Kent, son of Harry & Jane Bristow, of Shoreham, nr. Sevenoaks, Kent.

1911 Census - Quebec Barracks, Bordon - Alfred Bristow, age 31, single, private soldier, 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, born Shoreham.

17th June 1911, The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Wingham, Kent, married Marie Winifred Tumber, spinster .

Children: Stanley Alfred Bristow, born 3rd December 1913, Dublin, baptised 4th January 1914, Dublin; Marie Kathleen Bristow, born 28th January 1915, Wingham, Kent.

Enlisted Canterbury, Kent, age 21, height 5ft 5½ inches, weight 128lbs, scar back of left hand over middle of 2nd metacarpal, scar back left leg 1½ inches above heel, ruddy complexion, grey eyes, brown hair. Formerly driver.

Home 29th April 1901 to 27th February 1902; Malta, 28th February 1902 to 13th December 1902; Home, 14th December 1902 to 5th April 1904; Malta, 6th April 1904 to 29th January 1907; Home, 30th January 1907 to 28th September 1915; Salonica, 29th September 1915 to 5th September 1916.

29th April 1901, enlisted; 21st January 1902, 3rd Class Certificate of Education; 10th May 1902 to 6th June 1902, Malta Hospital, eczema; 18th July 1902 to 6th October 1902, Malta Hospital, Mediterrean Fever?; 25th November 1902, Steam Ship Dominion; 13th December 1902, Shorncliffe; 26th February 1904, 2nd Class Certificate of Education; 24th March 1903, appointed Lance Corporal; 6th April 1904, Steam Ship, Soudan; 15th April 1904, Malta; 6th August 1904, passed exam for Corporal; 7th April 1905, promoted Corporal; 25th May 1906, appointed Lance Sergeant; 18th December 1906, Hospital Ship Braemar Castle; 28th December 1906, Dover; 12th August 1910, Line of March, neglect of duty whilst in charge of the escort to the Regimental Transport, severely reprimanded; 1st July 1912, promoted Sergeant; 13th September 1914, promoted Company Sergeant Major; 29th September 1915, posted Salonica; 8th December 1915, wounded, Balkans, shrapnel right shoulder; 5th February 1916, rejoined Battalion; 11th May 1916, appointed Company Sergeant Major to "C" Company; 15th May 1916, becomes supernumerary to establishment; 17th July 1916. absorbed in vacancy of Company Sergeant Major to "D" Company; 14th August 1916, becomes supernumerary to establishment.

7th September 1916, buried , grave site 400 yards West of Mekes, grave duly consecrated and will be fenced off and laid out.

26th March 1917, pension awarded of 20/6 a week to widow and two children.

26th June 1918 personal belongings of disc, religious book, purse, photos & papers returned to widow at Grape Vine Cottage, Wingham, nr Canterbury.

29th May 1919, Statement of Relatives - Widow, Marie Winifred Bristow, Grape Vine Cottage, Wingham; Children - Stanley Alfred Bristow, born 3rd December 1913, Grape Vine Cottage, Wingham; Marie Kathleen Bristow, born 28th January 1915, Grape Vine Cottage, Wingham; Brothers - Augustus Bristow, age 57, The Terrace, Shoreham, Sevenoaks; Harry Bristow, age 55, 7 Elm Cottage, Lomgfield, Kent; Thomas Bristow, age 53, Angle Inn, Addington, Malling, Kent; George Bristow, age 47, 17 Gideon Road, Lavender Hill, Battersea; Ernest Bristow, age 35, The Terrace, Shoreham, Sevenoaks; Sisters - Rose Moss?, age 51, Chapel Cott, Pratts Botton, Chelsfield; Ann Staples, age 49, 2 Heaven Cott, Knockholt, Kent; Edith (name unknown), age 43, 42 Stone Street, Maidstone, Kent; Eliza Simmons, age 43, 1 Riverdale Cott, Shoreham, Sevenoaks, Kent; Lily Jones, age 40, Florence? Road, Brixton, London.

Buried at Struma Military Cemetery, III. E. 2., Greece.

This page was last updated on 15-Jul-2024.