Biography of Private Gerald Bertram Barstow (1000810)
Manitoba Regiment (44th Battalion)
Canadian Over-seas Expeditionary Force
Died 23rd August 1917

• Name: Elizabeth Charlotte Coupland
• DOB: 1851
• Place Of Birth: Frieston, Lincolnshire, England
• Marriage: 1 February 1882 All Souls Church, Hampstead

• 4 of his brothers served in the war. All joining the Canadian Over-seas Expeditionary Force. They are Herbert Wiliifrid Barstow, Hugh Cecil Barstow, Henry Lionel Barstow and Montagu Ivan Barstow

• No marriage for Gerald has been found and because of his age we can assume that he never had the opportunity to marry.

Newspaper Mentions

• Grantham Journal Saturday 30th March 1918.
  Aslackby
  KILLED IN ACTION: It is with regret we record the death of Pte Gerald Bertram Barstow fourth son of the late Vicor of Aslackby, killed in action in France. He joined the Canadian Army at the beginning of the war and arrived in France July 1917. He was reported missing and is now regarded as having been killed in action.  We also regret to state that George Edward Daff, eldest son of Mr and Mrs daff who was reported missing on October 4th 1917 is now regarded by the War Office as killed. The deceased soldier worked on the land, previously to enlisting. He was a scholar at the Methodist Sunday School, a ringer, a teacher in the Church Sunday School, a chorister and communicant. The sincere sympathy of the neighbours is offered to the sorrowing parents. The Memorial Service will be hold on Sunday April 7th.

• Grantham Journal Saturday 3rd August 1918
  ASLACKBY
  GUNNER Wm. PLOWRIGHT was reported missing on May 27th.  The Red Cross have made diligent enquiries, and reported that his papers were seized, and it is feared that he has been taken prisoner.  Much sympathy is felt with his following parents.
  A MEMORIAL SERVICE was held on Sunday for two of our brave lads, who have made the great sacrifice – Pte. Bertram Barstow and Pte. george Daff.  The Rev. J. S. Barstow, brother of the former, and an Army Chaplain in France, was the preacher, taking 2  Tim. 1. 10 for his text.  Pte Barstow joined the Canadian Army, and was killed in action in France on August 27th, 1917.  Pte. George Daff was a ringer, Sunday School teacher, chorister, and Communicant.  He was reported missing in France in the autumn of 1917, and his body was found a few months after, and reverently buried on the field of battle.  His brother, Pte percy daff, is invalided home with a shrapnel wound, and now lies in hospital.

Military Records

Medals

• British War Medal
• Victory Medal

Memorials

• UK:
• Aslackby, plaque in St James’ Church

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
• In memory of Private Gerald Bertram Barstow 1000810, 44th Bn, Canadian Infantry who died on 23 August 1917 Age 26
• Son of the late Rev. John Smithson Barstow and Mrs Elizabeth Charlotte Barstow of Aslackby Rectory, Folkingham, Lincs, England
• Remembered with honour Vimy Memorial

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

• This is ongoing research and will be posted when completed

Sources

• WW1 Soldier’s Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
• British Newspaper Archive.
• Fold 3
• Find My Past
• Genealogist
• Forces War Records
• British Army Service Numbers
• War Gratuity Calculator
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• National Archives – Battalion War Diaries
• General Registry Office