Name
Robert Gristwood
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/10/1916
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
46506
Royal Field Artillery
"D" Battery 94th Brigade
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
A.I.F. BURIAL GROUND, FLERS
H.H.29
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial, St. Mary’s Church Memorial, Rickmansworth, We are not aware of any Batchworth memorial
Pre War
Born in 1887 in Batchworth, Rickmansworth, Robert was the son of Martin and Julia(nee Piper) Gristwood. His father was a Grocer and in 1891 was living Batchworth, Rickmansworth with Julia, their six children and two servants.
In 1901 they were still there with six children (three born since 1891) and two visitors. Julia died 1903 age 50, and in 1911, Robert’s father Martin age 62, now described as a retired Grocer and Pork Butcher, was living 6 Messina Terrace, Ebury Road, Rickmansworth with five of his children. Robert age 21, was said to be a Grocer’s Assistant.
Robert’s younger brother Percy was killed in action on the 31 st of July 1917.
Recorded as enlisting in Stratford, London.
Wartime Service
The 94th Brigade RFA was raised as part of the Third New Army and arrived in France on the 10th of September 1915 under the command of 21st Division. They served on the Western Front throughout the war seeing action at the Battle of Loos in 1915 and in 1916 the Battles of Albert, Bazentin Ridge, Flers-Courcelette, Morval and Le Transloy.
It was on the first day of Le Transloy that Robert died, killed in action near Eaucourtl’Abbe.
Additional Information
Brother of Private Percy Cyril Gristwood who was killed in action on 31 Jul 1917 and who is also commemorated on these memorials.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Tanya Britton, Mike Collins
