Dorothy Hall has submitted the following:-
William, born in 1899 at Richmond, Yorkshire was the son of James and Mary Eleanor Britton. James was a shoemaker. In 1901 the family were at 42 Bargate, Richmond. Mary Eleanor (1888), Bertram (1892) and William were the children. James died in 1905 and in 1911 the family were still at 42 Bargate and Bertram James, the son was a shoe repairer. Mary Eleanor died in 1912 at Richmond.
William and his sister Mary Eleanor moved to Moor Leazes Farm at Lanchester. On the 29th January 1916 William, employed as a beast man, enlisted at Lanchester. He was five feet 6½ inches tall. He named his sister as next of kin.
William joined the army as 148956 Private Britton in the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery then later transferred to the 1/5th Durham Light Infantry.
He was killed in action 24 March 1918. He has no known grave.
Mary Eleanor's address is crossed out in William's records and unknown Gateshead added.
Awards: British War Medal; Victory Medal.
William Britton is remembered at Lanchester on L62.01 L62.02 and L62.04at Stockton in S138.35
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 58
