Orders, Decorations and Medals

Family group of four: Private S. G. Bristowe, 16 London Regiment, and Lieutenant M. D. Bristowe, Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm
British War and Victory Medals (555337 Pte. S. G. Bristowe, 16-Lond. R.); Korea 1950-53 (L/SFX.875098 M. D. Bristowe, N.A.1 R.N.); U.N. Korea, sold with cloth Pilot’s wings, a wedding photograph in uniform wearing medals and further research, nearly extremely fine (4)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals Relating to the Korean War 1950-53.

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Sidney G. Bristowe served during the Great War with the Rifle Brigade, 10th and 16th battalions, The London Regiment. “It was his proud boast that he was one of the youngest serving soldiers on the Western Front where he celebrated his 17th birthday. Later he served in Palestine where he met Lawrence (of Arabia) and marched with Allenby into Jerusalem. One of the occasions when Sidney met Lawrence was during the night; he was on picket duty and they had been warned not to fire on a party of Arabs which were expected to come through the lines on the way to Army H.Q. - they came through Sidney’s part of the front, leading their camels and he was surprised to recognise Lawrence who was at the front of the party. As regards the entry into Jerusalem, Sidney always talked about Allenby entering on foot, in contrast to the Kaiser who, a few years earlier had had a gate heightened so he could enter on horseback.” (Extracts taken from letters of a family friend sold with the lot).
Michael D. Bristowe served in the Korean War as Naval Airman 1st class. He was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant in June 1953, Lieutenant in December 1955, and served at R.N.A.S. Lossiemouth, H.M.S. Fulmar, as a Pilot flying instructor. He was tragically killed on 19th October, 1960, when on a training flight with trainee pilot Midshipman William Gilligan. The Vampire jet fighter dived into the ground and blew up in flames shortly after take off, killing both men instantaneously.