Charles Bristow was born around 1891 in Chailey and at the time the 1901 census was taken, was living at North Common with his family.  The family comprised Henry Bristow (head, aged 37 and running his own market gardening business), his wife Emma Esther Bristow (aged 36) and their five children: Henry (aged 13 and working for his father), Ann Bristow (aged 12), Charles (aged nine), Erle Bristow (aged six) and Emily Bristow (aged four).

 

Chailey Parish Magazine first notes in October 1914 that Charles is serving his King and Country and the following October notes that he is serving with the 2nd Royal Sussex in France.  The same issue also notes that he had been wounded on 25th September 1915 (the opening day of the Battle of Loos).

 

In April 1916 the parish magazine reports that Charles is in England.  He is still noted as serving with the 2nd Royal Sussex and was presumably recuperating from wounds.

 

In December 1917, his name appears in the parish magazine’s roll of honour as having been killed in action on 3rd September.  His regiment is still given as 2nd Royal Sussex but he had actually been posted to the the 9th battalion (presumably after recovering form his Loos wound).  Soldiers Died records his number – G/1654 – and the fact that he enlisted at Lewes.  The Commonwealth War Graves Commission adds that was 25 years old and was the son of Henry and Emma Bristow, of Chailey, Lewes and the husband of Emily Kate Bristow, of Ashleigh Grange, The Leas, Westcliff-on-Sea.

 

Charles is buried at La Clytte Military Cemetery, Heuvelland, West Flanders, Belgium; grave reference: I.F.37

 

Reg Philpott recalls that Charles’ brother Erle Bristow had tried to meet up with Charles in France but the day before they were due to do this, Charles was killed.  The men's cousin, Charles Bristow, who was serving with the AIF but who was also originally from Chailey, was also killed in action in September 1917.

 

 

Sources and Acknowledgements

 

• 1901 Census of England and Wales
• Chailey Parish Magazine
• Soldiers Died in The Great War
• The Commonwealth War Graves’ Commission’s Debt of Honour Register
• Interview with Reg Philpott in 2003
• Aurel Sercu of Belgium for the photographs of Charles Bristow’s last resting place