13005511 Lance Serjeant Charles Frederick Bristow GM RE

Report-Bristow-CF.pdf (thameremembers.org.uk)

Charles Frederick Bristow was born in Cranwell, Lincolnshire, on 10th October 1898, the son of Fred, who was a farmer, and Rose Bristow, one of three children. After serving during the Great War, he married Elsie Lomas at St Mary's, Thame on 26th December 1924. She was the daughter of the manager of Thame gasworks. They went to live in East Kesteven, Lincs, and had three children, Rita, Enid and Annie. At the start of the second world war, Charles again volunteered and after serving at first in the Pioneer Corps and coming through the evacuation at Dunkirk, he transferred to the Royal Engineers. 13005511 Charles Frederick Bristow, Royal Engineers, 22 Bomb Disposal Company, was awarded the George Medal on 17th February 1942 in recognition of conspicuous gallantry for carrying out hazardous work associated with de-fusing unexploded bombs in Rainham, Essex, during the winter of 1940/41. On the 1st April 1942, in company with Lieutenant Walton, they attempted to defuse a Yellow Peril (British) balloon bomb. The bomb exploded killing Lieutenant Walton instantly, Sergeant Bristow died of his wounds on the 4th April in St Georges Hospital, London. He was 43 years of age, and was buried with full military honours in Cranwell (St Andrews) churchyard. He is commemorated on the church memorial in Cranwell village, but has yet to be remembered in Thame.

Bristow, C.F. | The Royal Engineers Association (royalengineersbombdisposal-eod.org.uk)

Incident. Lance Sergeant C.F. Bristow. GM, was injured on the 1st April 1942 working with Lieutenant J.P. Walton GM dealing with a Yellow Peril balloon bomb, on Halfway House Marshes, near Great Wakering. Lieutenant J P Walton GM was killed and Lance Sergeant C F Bristow was injured he died of his wounds 3 days later. George Medal details. On the 5th November 1940, as then Corporal C.F. Bristow was assisting Lieutenant J. Walton with a 250kg bomb fitted with a clockwork time delay fuze and a sensitive anti disturbance fuze. This was inside a gasometer at Romford, Essex. Due to the gas they could only work for twenty minutes at a time. Whilst working in these dangerous and arduous conditions an air raid was also in progress. For their efforts both men were awarded the George Medal. Details extracted from The Dangers of UXB’s. Lt Col E.E. Wakeling.

Placed in the London Gazette on the 17th February 1942.

13005511 Cpl Charles Frederick Bristow. GM.
22 Bomb Disposal Company.

Awarded for work at Gas works Romford and A13 road Rainham, Essex.Cpl Bristow assisted Lt J.P Walton on the 5th November 1940 in dealing with two 250kg bombs armed with both no 17 and 50 fuzes. These were in gasholders at the Romford Gas Works. The air conditions were so bad that work had to be stopped every twenty minutes. This work was completed in the shortest possible time, ensuring minimum damage and services to be  re-started with the least disruption. Also this work was carried out whilst the air raid continued.Also on the 26th to 28th February 1941, Bristow assisted Walton in dealing with three remaining  250kg bombs  of a stick of  four straddling the A13 at Rainham, Essex. One of this stick exploded after 18 hours. Work commenced on these bombs after a safety period of four days, they were fuzed with both No 17 and 50 fuzes. Two when uncovered were found to be ticking, but immunized successfully.

Carl Harris on 13th March 2019 at 11:05 pm

L/Sgt. Charles Frederick Bristow GM and Elsie Bristow, (nee Lomas), were my maternal Grandparents. My Grandmothers ashes were interred at the grave of my Grandfather in 1994 with the simple inscription on a supplementary syne, saying, ‘Together Forever’.
Lance Sgt. Bristow’s medals, together with the Parachute from the Yellow Peril that caused his sad loss are in the possession of my son, Col. Carl C. Harris RM.