Percy George Bristow
1893-1994
Father Nm: George Bristow born 1870 Gt Kingshill died 1967 Clutton Somerset
Mother Nm: Elizabeth Fanny Blincoe [3963] c 7.9.1874 Long Crendon died in Radstock Somerset
Marriage Dt: July 1924 Okehampton, Devon
K comments:
Spouse comments: Maud Mary Rees born 1905 Nantmel, Radnor, Wales died 16 Nov 1962 London, England
Children:
(Research):
BIRTH 1893
3 July 1893, Clutton Somerset
1901 CENSUS
Twerton Somerset
George Bristow 35
Susan Emily Bristow 35
Percy George Bristow 10
Mabel Emily Bristow 8
Ethel Agnes Bristow 1
1911 CENSUS
Radstock Somerset
BRISTOW ELIZABETH FANNY F 1873 38
BRISTOW FRANK M 1903 8
BRISTOW GEORGE M 1871 40
BRISTOW MAUDE F 1900 11
BRISTOW PERCIVAL GEORGE M 1894 17 Chair Seat maker
1914
- 7 September, Travels to London and joins Metroplitan Police as a Police Constable he subsequently served for more than 27 yrs
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WW1
Bristow Percival (Percy) George Private, Sergeant, Pilot Cadet, 52853, Royal Fusiliers, 603101 Labour Corps, 178911. RAF
1915
There appears to be two Medal Crads for Percy indicating perhaps that if the same man that in 1915 h joinded the Royal Fusiliers and fought in France and Belgium , transferred to the Labour corps aft 1916 and then in 1918 toof a role with the RAF to become a Pilot.
1918
- 18. June. Percy takes leave from Metropolitan Police and enlists as a Pilot Cadet. He is Inducted at the Central Depot and Distributing (C.D.D.) location at RAF Uxbridge. His residence is given as 24 Burrows Road, Kensal Rise, London
- 1 July, He is placed in the Reserve Depot and probabily goes through full RAF induction training for a Cadet Pilot.
- 5 October. He is then posted to the No. 2 Observer School of the Royal Air Force was located at Eastchurch, Kent for flight observer training.
- 25 November. He is posted to a Flying School. ( the Designation in his records is F. S. Maiske, which on researching doesnt apear to be a full name for a RAF location) .
At the Cadet Wing pupils received basic military training during a two-month course which included drill, physical training, military law, map reading and signalling using Morse code.
Once completed they moved on to the School of Military Aeronautics to begin a two-month course of military training and ground instruction. The topics covered included aviation theory, navigation, map reading, wireless signalling using Morse code, photography and artillery and infantry co-operation. The students were also taught the working of aero engines and instruments and basic rigging
The next phase involved flying at a Training Depot Stations (TDS). Cadets were expected to complete a minimum of 25 hours elementary flying training – both dual and solo – on Avro 504 aircraft logged over three months. Thorough ground instruction was also provided. This achieved, student pilots received the grade ‘A’. 
Cadets remained at the same TDS for the second phase of their instruction. This two-month course included a further 35 hours flying time with a minimum of five hours on a modern ‘front-line’ type of aircraft. Student pilots also had to demonstrate proficiency in cross-country and formation flying, reconnaissance work and gunnery. Successful cadets were graded ‘B’ and commissioned.
- The time for training would have meant Percy was not qualified to fly until near or even after the war ended so on that basis he likely was discharged early in 1919. His records do not have a discharge date in them.
SOURCES
- RAF Service Records.
MEDALS
Awarded the British War Medal. Note: For the Royal Navy, RNAS, Royal Marines, and the Dominion and Colonial naval forces, the criteria was different to the Army the requirement for overseas service was not needed to qualify hence Percy who served in the UK received the medal.
Alternatively if Percy was inded to have served in the Army before he joined the RAF in 1918 then he was awarded the Victory and Britiah War medals for overseas service.
AFTER THE WAR
1919
- Percy rejoins the Metropolitan Police Force
After 1925
At some point after 1925 Percy joined the RAF as a Class F Reservist with Serial No 518947 National Archives AIR78 212
1939 CENSUS
1939 City of Westminster Police Constable
1943
- Assigned to V Divison of MEP which included places like Wandsworth, Battersea, Merton, Barnes, Richmond, Kingston, Ditton, Epsom, Hampton Court Palace, and Kew Gardens
- After 28 years Percy leaves the Metropolitan Police Force and takes a pension
1949
- Retired from the Metropolitan Police, Percy joins the London Telephone Region as a bookeeper.
1993
Family story is that on reaching 100 Percy a widow was the oldest surviving Policeman in Britain and was invited to Scotland Yard to celebrate his 100th. Source Gordon Leithboro nephew
DEATH 1994
Westminster London
GALLERY