Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Maurice Victor Britton born January 22nd 1895 at Old Quarrington, son of William Britton 1862-1932 and Fanny Isabella Watson 1864-1931 who were married, 1884, in Ripon Yorkshire. His parents had eleven children of whom only nine survived, six boys and three girls. With the exception of Maurice and the three younger children all the family originated from Yorkshire but in 1911 lived at 1 Forge Row, Ferry Hill, County Durham. His father had always been a farm labourer and along with all the older males was employed by the Carlton Iron & Coal Company in that capacity. Maurice, who was only fifteen years old, worked under ground, one of the many children employed as trappers, operating the air doors providing ventilation and preventing the build up of dangerous gases. Sat in the cold and damp with very little light, he would have worked twelve hours a day.
Maurice was a soldier who became a sailor. He enlisted September 5th 1914 in the Durham Light Infantry and transferred to the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, at Crystal Palace, September 10th 1914. He was assigned to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, “Anson” 8th Battalion, 63rd Royal Naval Division. The R.N.D. fleet left Avonmouth on the 28th/29th February 1915 putting in to Valletta, Malta March 8th, leaving the next day. In the evening of March 11th the fleet dropped anchor at Mundros Bay and was engaged in various encounters with the Turks, until April 24th, when the fleet made for Gallipoli. The demonstration by the R.N.D took place in the Gulf of Saros. Landings were made at Helles, Kum Kale and Gaba Tepe but due to navigational error this actually occurred down the coast at Anzac Cove. The Division was to fight in the May and June battles making a diversionary demonstration in the Gulf of Saros thus allowing the 29th Division, the Australians and the New Zealanders to make good their landings on the Gallipoli Peninsular. The R.N.D. sustained heavy losses and it was here that Able Seaman KP/963 Maurice Victor Britton received a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Maurice died of his wounds June 15th 1915, he was 19 years old.
Maurice was buried alongside his fallen comrades by Rev. C. L. H. Beardmore at Lancashire Landings Cemetery, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. Grave 111. His campaign medals, Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal were forwarded to his father.
Maurice's elder brother Private Albert Henry Britton, of the Machine Gun Corps was killed in action 23/08/1918.
In God’s Safe Keeping. Rest In Peace.
Maurice Britton is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12 and at Ferryhill Station F43.01
