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This data is related to World War 2
Civilian

John George Brister (58)

Service Number N/A
Military Unit Co-op Bakery Meadow Lane Nottingham 9/5/1941
Date of birth Unknown
Date of Death Unknown (Age Unknown)
Place of Birth Nottingham (21/9/1882)
Employment, Education or Hobbies He was a journeyman baker in 1939.
Family History

John George Brister was the son of Joseph G and Mary A Brister and the brother of Thomas R and Isabella Brister. By 1891, they were living at 213, Willingham Street, Clee with Weelsby, Caistor, Lincolnshire. In 1907, John married Eliza Ellen Lyman at Nottingham and they had three children - Doris, Harold V and Donald A Brister. Boarding at Ripley with the Mills family, John worked for Bowman’s Bakers in 1921. The family address at the time of John’s death was 32, Stratford Road, West Bridgford.

Military History

Nottingham’s heaviest loss of life at a single location during May 9th 1941’s air raid occurred within the Co-op Bakery on Meadow Lane where 49 night shift workers perished. The bakery was hit twice; one bomb caused tons of flour stored on upper floors to crash down to ground level. A second device penetrated the bakery’s air raid shelter roof before exploding amongst the assembled work force. Rescue efforts were impeded by blazing fat. For an excellent account of this incident, see David Needham, Battle of the Flames, Nottingham’s Fight for Survival in WWII (2nd Ed. Chesterfield: Banister Publications Ltd, 2020 p.p. 141-142. First Ed. Horizon Press, 2009).

Extra Information

Nottingham Evening Post, Deaths, Saturday May 17th 1941: BRISTER – John George of 32, Stratford Road WB, enemy action. Husband of Eliza Ellen, father of Doris, Harold, Donald and Michael. (late of Alfreton Road) Grave Reference: Wilford Hill: T31/69B Buried May 12th 1941

Photographs

No Photos