Britton Frank 4455975
Personnel Entry
Name Britton Frank
Army number 4455975
Rank Private
Decorations Awarded the Defence Medal and the War Medal for his service.
Date of birth 9/5/1921. Mother's maiden surname Richardson.
Age 60 at the time of his death.
Unit Enlisted in The Durham Light Infantry (TA) 23/5/1939 at Spennymoor, aged 18, for a four-year engagement. Attesting Officer was 2/Lt William James Horne. The witness was N Minnis. The Approving Officer was G R Roddam. On enlistment Frank was 5ft 10" tall with fresh complexion and brown eyes and hair. Posted to the 6th Battalion. Embodied 1/9/1939. Posted to the 10th Battalion on its inception 3/9/1939. Posted to the 23rd Division Details Battalion 25/4/1940 when the Division went to France as he was too young to go overseas at that time. Rejoined the 10th Battalion at Launceston on 22/6/1940. Served Iceland - disembarking there on 16/9/1940. Was on leave at the time the Brigade left Iceland and was granted an extension to that leave period rather than travelling back to Iceland. Rejoined the Battalion 29/12/1941 at Carmarthen. Admitted to Hereford County Hospital 7/7/1942 from Kington Camp and transferred the following day to Barnsley Hall Emergency Hospital, Bromsgrove with a compound fracture of tibia and fibula, attributable to his service. This is likely to have occurred during a training exercise - possible the river crossing mentioned in the War Diary. No details are given on his records, however. Posted to the Y List 27/7/1942 while remaining in hospital. Discharged 13/6/1943 on ceasing to fulfil physical requirements and permanently unfit for any form of military service. Conduct on discharge described as Exemplary. Awarded a disability pension of 100%. Frank Britton subsequently suffered an amputation of his damaged leg arising from the development of atherosclerosis.
Company/Battery Not yet confirmed.
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role Infantryman.
Joined Brigade 3/9/1939.
Promotions No.
Wounded Yes - right leg injured (compound fracture) apparently as a result of a gun shot wound in July 1942- resulting in total disability.
Prisoner of War No.
Died/Killed in action Died 23/10/1981 at Stanley, County Durham, aged 60. Death Registered Durham Northern December Quarter 1981. Cause of death - Acute left ventricular failure, myocardial fibrosis, coronary artery occlusion and hypertension.
Home address Lived at 13 Bede Place, Merrington, Spennymoor, County Durham. Worked as a Miner. His father, Robert Britton, was named as next of kin. Married Gwendoline Burnage (7/8/1925 - 13/8/2010) Q2 1945, Durham North Western. Subsequently lived at 64, Durham Road, South Stanley and worked as a Machine Operator.
Source table
Thanks are due to Keith Britton (Frank's son) for the additional "family" details.
