Photo: Brian Pirrie
2661 Private
J. Britton
Durham Light Infantry
27th April 1916 Age 32
Husband of Caroline Britton, of 28A, Baxton Burn, Benfieldside.
Joseph Britton committed suicide.
The Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough 29/04/1916 reports:-
Soldier's Suicide
Sad Tragedy at a North East Coast Camp.
Yesterday a district coroner held an inquest touching the death of Joseph Britton, a private in the Durham Light Infantry, who was found shot at a north east coast military encampment.
Lieut. McVickers, of the Durham Light Infantry, said that they had had some very heavy military duties lately and deceased had got into an excitable condition and had been placed under medical observation. He was on light duty.
About 6.35 pm on Thursday witness was informed that deceased was in the hut toying with ammunition and witness went to the hut and told him he should not bother about the ammunition.
Witness left the hut and a few seconds later he heard a report and on returning to the hut found the deceased lying on the floor with his brains blown out.
A rifle was standing against the wall of the hut. Witness added that deceased had been in an excitable condition all day.
A private named Heels stated that he saw deceased take a cartridge from another private's pouch. Witness went under the table and other two men who were in the room ran out and witness followed. Immediately afterwards a shot was fired.
The jury found that deceased committed suicide whilst of unsound mind.
Joseph Britton is not remembered on a local War Memorial.
He is remembered in the DLI Book of Remembrance page 102
