Driver Richard Bristow, Royal Field Artillery

Chailey Parish Magazine notes in November 1914 that Richard Bristow is serving his King and Country.  In October 1915 it records him as Bristow, Driver R, RFA, France.  When the magazine’s practice of recording locations ceased in December 1916 he is recorded simply as Bristow, Driver R, RFA and this information is then repeated monthly up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919. 

Richard Bristow is probably the same Richard Bristow who appears on the 1901 census as an eight year old living at Hole Cottage, North Common, Chailey.  The household comprised: Frederick Bristow (head, married, aged 43, a general agricultural labourer), his wife Elizabeth Bristow (aged 42) and their children: William Bristow (aged 14, working as a milkman on a farm), Albert Bristow (aged 11), Richard, Henry Bristow (aged six) and Lucy Bristow (aged two).  All of the children and their father had been born in Chailey.  Elizabeth Bristow had been born in nearby Wivelsfield.