Lt. Arthur Frederick Britton MC of 57 Sqn. DH4 pilot with 6 victories. Died from Influenza On This Day 19 February 1919
Britton was born in Balham (24 Dornton Road), the son of Frederick and Ellen Britton. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry) regiment on 27 November 1915, and on 13 March 1916 he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps.
He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 June 1917, and was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. Posted to No. 57 Squadron, flying the Airco DH.4, as an observer/gunner, he gained his first victories on 3 July 1917 with pilot Captain Laurence Minot, shooting down two Albatros D.IIIs over Zonnebeke. On 7 July, with pilot Lieutenant A. D. Pryor, he shot down another D.III north-east of Ypres, before his transfer to the Royal Flying Corps was officially gazetted on 12 July. Finally, on 27 July, with Minot again, he shot down three Albatros D.Vs over Houthulst. On 20 August 1917 he was seriously wounded and had his left leg amputated.
(Laurence Minot was also local and lived at 30 Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood and attended Dulwich School)
On 1 January 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross, and on 18 April 1918 he received permission to wear the Croix de Guerre awarded to him by the French government.
Britton relinquished his commission on account of ill-health caused by his wounds on 28 September 1918. He died from influenza on 19 February 1919.
(Peoplepill)
His probate record indicates his address as 46 Norfolk House Road, Streatham.
Britton was born in Balham (24 Dornton Road), the son of Frederick and Ellen Britton. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry) regiment on 27 November 1915, and on 13 March 1916 he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps.
He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 June 1917, and was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. Posted to No. 57 Squadron, flying the Airco DH.4, as an observer/gunner, he gained his first victories on 3 July 1917 with pilot Captain Laurence Minot, shooting down two Albatros D.IIIs over Zonnebeke. On 7 July, with pilot Lieutenant A. D. Pryor, he shot down another D.III north-east of Ypres, before his transfer to the Royal Flying Corps was officially gazetted on 12 July. Finally, on 27 July, with Minot again, he shot down three Albatros D.Vs over Houthulst. On 20 August 1917 he was seriously wounded and had his left leg amputated.
(Laurence Minot was also local and lived at 30 Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood and attended Dulwich School)
On 1 January 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross, and on 18 April 1918 he received permission to wear the Croix de Guerre awarded to him by the French government.
Britton relinquished his commission on account of ill-health caused by his wounds on 28 September 1918. He died from influenza on 19 February 1919.
(Peoplepill)
His probate record indicates his address as 46 Norfolk House Road, Streatham.
