BRISTOW William Henry

William Bristow enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada on 20th April 1916.  On his attestation form he gave his date of birth as 27th November 1889 in Stourbridge, Worcestershire, his occupation as a carpenter and his next of kin as his father, Richard Bristow, Stourbridge, England.  He had 10 months previous experience with the the British Columbia Horse.   William was 5 feet 6¼ inches tall with blue eyes, fair hair and a clear complexion.

National Archives of Canada Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1078 – 21

The Canada War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty) record the following information on Private William Bristow:
“Killed in action.”
During the operation in the vicinity of PASSCHENDAELE, this soldier was hit in the stomach by an enemy bullet and instantly killed.

The Canada Commonwealth War Graves Registers record the following information on Private William Bristow:
Killed in action. Place of Burial: 150yds S.W. of Vapour Farm. Menin Gate Memorial. Next of Kin: Richard Bristow, 54 High Street, Wollaston, Stourbridge, Worcestershire, England.

William Bristow was the son of Richard and Madeline Bristow and was born in Wollaston on 27th November 1889.  By 1917 his parents were living at 111 High Street, Wollaston. Their son, however, had emigrated to Canada to become a carpenter, and in 1916 he enlisted at Vernon, British Columbia, in the Canadian Expeditionary Force with the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles (British Columbia Regiment).  They came to Flanders for the Third Battle of Ypres when the Canadians were involved in several phases of this long battle. On the 26th October they arrived at the front line opposite Passchendaele and on the 30th began the assault on the village.  Great losses were taken in the four day assault and among them was Private William Bristow who was killed on the 30th October.  He was 29 years of age and left a widow and one child.

William Bristow has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial.