Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.
Joseph Frederick Oscar Bryant was born on 29 December 1885, one of the ten children of William Henry Bryant (1840-1894) and Ellen Bryant née Howard (1845-1923). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1886 in the Bromley registration district, Kent (now Greater London).
In the 1891 census he is shown as living at 44 Aylesbury Road, Bromley, with his married sister Ellen Elizabeth Pocock (1863-1937), her husband Harry Pocock (1865-1942) who was a domestic servant gardener and their son Harry Wallace Pocock (1889-1970).
He was shown as aged 15 years and a general labourer in the 1901 census, living at 4 Nelson Road, Bromley, with his widowed mother, three siblings: Emma Maria Bryant (1878-1969) a laundress, Jesse Bryant (b.1881) a stationary engine driver and Sydney Bryant (b.1891), together with two foster children: Vera Elliot aged 9 years and Mary Collins aged 1 year.
He was still residing in the six roomed property at 4 Nelson Road, Bromley at the time of the 1911 census in which he is again described as general labourer with his mother, two siblings: Emma Maria Bryant who was shown as laundry maid and Sydney Bryant, a butcher's roundsman, together with Mary Collins a foster child aged 11 years.
On 7 October 1916 he was called up for military service and his enlistment papers show that he was still living at 4 Nelson Road, Bromley, a single man who was a gas company labourer. He was posted to No.4 Depot, Royal Field Artillery as a Driver. His service number was 177759 and he entered France on 5 March 1917. His service number was changed to 720090 and he was discharged from service on 15 February 1920. He was awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
In the 1939 England and Wales Register he is shown as gas fitter's labourer living at 4 Nelson Road, Bromley, with his sister Emma Maria Bryant, who was listed as 'unpaid domestic duties'. Both were described as single people.
He died, aged 59 years, his death being registered in the 4th quarter of 1945 in the Bromley registration district.
He is commemorated as J. F. O. Bryant on the South Suburban Gas Company war memorial.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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