No.40636, Private, Roland BRITTON
Aged 35
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Rowland Britton was born in Lawshall (2nd qtr 1882 Sudbury 4a:604) son of Henry James and Lydia Louisa BRITTON (née BIGG).Baptised Lawshall All Saints on 22nd June 1884.
1891 census...Aged 8, he was at Audley End Cottages, Lawshall with his father Henry J BRITTON [42] farm labourer born Shimpling; his mother Lydia L [42] born Long Melford; sisters Elizabeth [16], Ellen [12] and Cecilia [7]; brothers William [10], Alphonso [5], Edwin [3] and Sidney [2]. All the children were born in Lawshall. 1901 census...Aged 18, a farm labourer, he was still at Audley End Cottages with his parents; sister Cecilia; brothers, Alphonso, Edwin and Sidney. 1911 census...Not found in this census, apparently moved to Yorkshire. His widower father and brothers Edwin and Sidney were still at Audley End Road, Lawshall. His mother had died in 1905 On the pension card his father was still in Lawshall, later moving to 16 Risbygate Street, Bury St.Edmunds . His brother Sydney was killed earlier in 1917, serving in the Canadian Army see here |
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He enlisted on 21st January 1914 at Rillington, Yorkshire, No.730, Army Service Corps, giving his age as 29 years 8 months, born Lawshall, a farm worker, next of kin,
father Henry James BRITTON of Lawshall. He was 5 feet 7 inches tall, chest 36 to 38 inches, weighed 154 lbs.
Posted to BEF 20th August 1914. Discharged on termination of engagement on 20th January 1916.
He seemingly straight away re-enlisted in Beverley in the Northamptonshire Regiment (record not found). He was posted via Folkestone-Boulogne on 28th June 1917, to 34th Inf Brigade Depot at Etaples
and transferred to the 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment on 15th July
On 10th November they were at HILLTOP FARM just NE of YPRES...3rd Brigade attacked on the right, part of objective gained but a counter attack drove them back to their original position. 2/Lt Hopkins wounded (since lost an eye). 2/Lt Irons slightly wounded and remained at duty. We held a line of shell holes length of about 1,500 yards.
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