Name
Arthur Brittain (poss Britton)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/09/1916
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
27445
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2C
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Graveley War Memorial
Pre War
Arthur William Ward Brittain was the son of Joseph Ward and Sarah Charlotte Brittain. He was born on 14 December 1881, probably in Peckham but various censuses give different, but similar, locations. They married on 19 December 1880 and initially lived at High Farm, Eynesbury, St Neots and then at Newcross Road in Kent.
In the census of 1881 they were found at 123 New Cross Rd, Deptford St Paul Parish, Kent. Joseph was (28) and a greengrocer, Sarah was (19). A servant was also present, Ada James.
The marriage was not entirely happy as Charlotte petitioned for divorce from Joseph on 15 November 1888. There is extensive documentation online from both parties, the gist of which is that Sarah alleged cruelty and gave a number of examples of violence, sometimes when he was drunk. He denied this saying that he had not been cruel, citing that if he used any force, it was necessary to prevent Charlotte from injuring herself or others when she was of unsound mind. Sarah also stated that he had placed her in a lunatic asylum where she was for 12 days, until her father rescued her.
It is not clear in the document what the outcome was, but as they are found in the following censuses, it would seem that divorce was not granted or they were reconciled. We hope for a happier time.
Arthur went to Peckham School from 14 April 1890.
They have not yet been found in the 1891 census, perhaps that is related to the above events. However, in 1901 Joseph was listed as Ward, and he and Sarah were living in the grocer’s shop on a farm in Clifton, Beds. Joseph being a market gardener on his own account. The following children were present: Arthur (b 1881), Florence Emily (b 1882), Alice Amelia (b 1886) and Ellen (b 1888).
How this should be related to the previous information is unclear, but there is a record of Sarah Charlotte Brittain of Bedfordshire in a lunatic asylum being discharged on 23 September 1907– her entry is confirmed as 7 June 1907.
By 1911 they were living in Jacks Hill, Weston, Graveley, nr Stevenage, Joseph was still a market gardener. Sarah was present as was Arthur who was 29, and also listed as a market gardener, Florence, Alice and Nellie (17). The census recorded them as married for 30 years, with 5 children, all living.
Before joining up Arthur was a market gardener in Graveley and recorded as born in New Cross in Kent, resided in Graveley and enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
Arthur received the Regimental Number 27445. He served in the 1st Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment which was in the 15th Brigade of the 5th Division, XIV Corps. He had only been in France a few weeks when he was killed in action.
His date of death coincides with an attack towards Morval, as part of the Battle of the Somme, in which the Bedfords captured the Sunken Road east of Albert and Guillemont only ten minutes after zero hour, following up an initial attack made by the Norfolks. The Cheshires then passed through the Bedfords and took Morval. The Bedfords sustained 114 casualties that day.
He has no known grave, but is remembered on Pier 2, Face C of the great Thiepval Memorial to the Missing in France.
Additional Information
His pension records give his mother’s address as 39 Bunyan Road, Hitchin the pension section is blank.
After his death £3 2s 8d was authorised to go to his father authorised on 8 March 1917 and later a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to him on 19 September 1919.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
