The Restaurant Bastion, Koblenz-Pfaffendorf, Germany

A postcard of the Restaurant Bastion in Germany. The text on the back translates to ‘wonderfully located with a view of the Koblenz river and the surrounding area. 300 seats. Large parking lot’. I haven’t been able to find much about it online, but there are a few postcards that feature it, mostly produced around 1960 like this example.

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The Bastion was located in Koblenz-Pfaffendorf, and in this photo the Rhine can be seen in the background with the Pfaffendorf Bridge traversing it. It seems like the minimensch cafe sits on the exact location today, so it’s possible the building eventually became this new premise. I think the view is beautiful.

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Excitingly, I was able to learn about the recipients of this postcard, sent to them by their son Eric who was born in 1917. Frank Haviside Bristoll was born in Richmond, Surrey in 1887, and enlisted during World War 1 at the age of 23. He married his wife Elsie in 1916, the same year he was honourably discharged from the military through his injuries.

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He was immortalised in paint by artist Eric Kennington, who served in the same platoon as him through the first winter of The Great War, in ‘The Kensingtons’. Frank can be seen on the left wearing the red scarf. You can also view his discharge papers below.

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After their second son John was born in 1920, Frank later became a Valuation Clerk for HM Inland Revenue. Elsie passed away in 1975 and Frank in 1977, both in their 80s, and Eric left this realm in 2015 at the age of 97. He’s buried at St. Mary the Virgin Churchyard in Glynde, East Sussex.