Date of Birth
1 December 1891
College
Borough Road College
Job(s)
Science master at Bideford Grammar School; Belmont Road, C.S., Tottenham
Service number
Z/1169
WW1 rank
Ordinary Seaman
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Public School Battalion, Royal Navy Division
Theatre of war
Europe
Date of death
23 February 1915
Location of death
Croydon Hospital, Crystal Palace
Buried/memorial
Edmonton Cemetery, Middlesex (Grave/Memorial reference: M. 7. 1527)
Biography
Ordinary Seaman Harry Champness Britten was born in Tottenham to Alfred Henry and Rosa Jane Britten. He gained a BSc in 1913 after spending 2 years at Borough Road College. Whilst at the college he was librarian and the editor of the college magazine - the B’s Hum 1911-1912. He was described as 5’5”, 36” chest, dark brown hair, and grey eyes. He enlisted in Public School Battalion Royal Navy Division on 30 December 1914. This division though was oversubscribed and it wasn’t until 1915 that Britten was properly enlisted with the intention of being sent to Egypt. However, on 16 February 1915 he was admitted to Croydon Hospital with cerebral spinal meningitis and died on the 23 February 1915.
Sources
Entry on p.86 [Roll of Honour page], Mentioned on Framed Borough Road College Roll of Honour, 1911-12 Club Officers Photo [BRCCO 005], BRCSYG033, 1913 Annual report, Secondary source information provided by Douglas Craik (taken from Commonwealth War Graves Commission)