Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Aubrey Rhys BRISTOW was born in Downey, Buckinghamshire, England in 1887

His parents were Owen Alfred BRISTOW & Emily Mary WEST

He married Isobella SERVICE in England in 1909

He served with the 4th Field Artillery Brigade and returned to Australia in 1918 and was discharged on 30th April, 1918

See attached story (link) about his subsequent return to England

Aubrey died in Thetford Infirmary of Influenza and Pneumonia on 24th October, 1918 and is buried in the Westgate Hill General Cemetery

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Aubrey Rhys Bristow was born in Buckinghamshire, England in 1887 to parents Owen Alfred & Emily Mary Bristow (nee West).

He married Isabella Service in 1909. Their marriage was registered in the September quarter, 1909 in the district of Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England.

Emily Mary Bristow, mother of Aubrey Rhys Bristow, died in 1911 at Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland, England.

Gilbert Bristow, Cabinet Maker & Aubrey Bristow, Chair Maker, were passengers on Ballarat which departed from the port of London, England on 11th April, 1912 bound for Australia via Cape Town.

Owen Alfred Bristow, father of Aubrey Rhys Bristow, died in 1913 at Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland, England.

Isabella Bristow, aged 24, & her sons - Walter (aged 3) & Aubrey (aged 3 months) were passengers on Benalla which departed from the port of London, England on 26th February, 1914. They listed their country of intended future permanent residence as Victoria, Australia.

On 19th February, 1916 Aubrey Rhys Bristow enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) as a 29 year old, married, Cabinetmaker from 20 Pratt Street, Moonee Ponds, Victoria. His next of kin was listed as his wife – Mrs I. Bristow, of 75 Margaret Street, Moonee Ponds, Victoria. A later address was given as 2 Stanhope Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. Aubrey Rhys Bristow stated on his Attestation Papers that he had served for 4 years with the Volunteer Engineers, Newcastle on Tyne, England.

Driver Aubrey Rhys Bristow, Service number 27485, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Borda (30) on 20th October, 1916 with the 4th Field Artillery Brigade, 9th Reinforcements & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 9th January, 1917.

He was marched in to Camp 3 Parkhouse from Australia on 10th January, 1917.

On 2nd February, 1917 Driver Bristow was marched out from No. 3 Camp Parkhouse, Wiltshire & marched in to R.B.A.A. (Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery) at Larkhill, Wiltshire, England on 4th February, 1917.

Driver Bristow proceeded overseas to France via Folkestone on 8th March, 1917 from R.B.A.A. (Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery) Camp 21, Larkhill, Wiltshire, England. He was marched in to A.G.B.D. (Australian General Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 9th March, 1917.

He was transferred to 1st Divisional Ammunition Column on 24th March, 1917 in France.

On 24th August, 1917 Driver  Bristow reported sick & was admitted to 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station with Varicose veins then transferred to No. 21 Ambulance Train. Driver Bristow was admitted to No. 1 Canadian General Hospital at Etaples, France on 26th August, 1917 & discharged to Base Details on 28th August, 1917. He joined A.G.B.D. at Havre on 30th August, 1917 from Hospital.

Driver Bristow reported sick on 3rd September, 1917 from A.G.B.D. (Australian General Base Depot) & was admitted to No. 2 General Hospital at Havre, France with piles. Driver Bristow was discharged to duty & joined the A.G.B.D. (Australian General Base Depot) from Hospital on 7th September, 1917.

He was transferred to England from A.G.B.D. in France on 23rd December, 1917 & classed as  P.B. (Permanent Base - medically unfit for field service). Driver Bristow was marched in to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England on 24th December, 1917.

A medical report was completed on Driver Aubrey Rhys Bristow on 25th December, 1917 at Medical Office, No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, England regarding his disability of Varicose Veins (pre-existing). The report stated that Driver Bristow had medium varicose veins on right leg & thigh & complained of aching pains on his leg. The Medical Board found that Driver Bristow was permanently unfit for General Service & fit for Home Service.

Driver Aubrey Rhys Bristow returned to Australia on H.T. (A14) Euripides, embarking from Plymouth, England on 30th January, 1918 due to varicose veins & was returning to be operated on. He disembarked in Australia on 21st March, 1918.

He was admitted to No. 11 Australian General Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria on 9th April, 1918.

Driver Aubrey Rhys Bristow was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 30th April, 1918.

On 16th July, 1918 Aubrey Rhys Bristow, aged 31, applied for enrolment as a Volunteer for Manufacture of Munitions in Great Britain (Note – the form signed was for those “Without Dependents”). He was trained as a Carpenter, working as a Joiner & married with 3 dependants. Aubrey Bristow stated on his enrolment form that he had worked for 9 years (including apprenticeship) with Household Furnishing Co., Newcastle-on-Tyne, 2 years with Elswick Ship Yard, Newcastle-on-Tyne & 3 years with Newport Railway Shops, Victoria, Australia. 

Aubrey Rhys Bristow was given a Munition Worker number of 3487.

Munitions Worker Aubrey Rhys Bristow embarked from Sydney, Australia in Suevic on 18th July, 1918 & arrived at Tilbury Dock, England on 13th October, 1918.

He commenced work with Messrs McAlpine & Sons, Feltwell Aerodrome as a Joiner on 17th October, 1918.

A letter was received by Officer in Charge, Australian Munitions Workers, London on 23rd October, 1918 from Munition Worker A. Burkett, 3855, at McAlpine’s Aerodrome stating that several of the Australian Munitions Workers at the Firm were ill with Influenza and that Munition Worker Bristow was not expected to recover. He was being attended to by the village doctor & they were unable to get him into a hospital. The letter requested assistance in the matter. A Telegram was sent on 23rd October, 1918 by Officer in Charge stating enquires were being made with a view to assisting.  A Telegram was received from Munition Worker Burkett on 24th October, 1918 stating that Munition Worker Bristow has been sent to hospital the previous night.

A Cable was sent on 24th October, 1918 by Officer in Charge, Australian Munitions Workers, London to Defence Department stating the Munition Worker Bristow was seriously ill with Influenza.

A telephone call was made to Officer in Charge, Australian Munitions Workers, London on 24th October, 1918 from Messrs McAlpine & Sons stating that Munition Worker Bristow had died at Thetford Infirmary.

Munitions Worker Aubrey Rhys Bristow died at 2 am on 24th October, 1918 at Thetford Infirmary, Norfolk, England from Influenza & Pneumonia.

He was buried in Westgate Hill General Cemetery, Newcastle Upon Tyne – Plot number G. 124. The A.I.F. arranged a Military Funeral. He has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission Headstone.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/westgate-hill.html