Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Stephen was the son of Stephen BRITTON & Ellen SPRAGGS and was born in 1887 in Dunwear, Bridgewater Without, Somerset, England.

His parents were married on the 25th of December 1884 in St John Baptist Church, Eastover, Bridgewater, Somerset, England.

His father was the son of Edward BRITTON & Eliza ALLEN and was born in 1864 in Bridgewater, Somerset, England.
His mother was the daughter of William SPRAGGS & Eliza JEANES and was born in 1864 in Dunwear, Bridgewater, Somerset, England.

Stephen was the second child born into this family of 12 children.

His father was a Brickyard labourer and the family lived at Dunwear, Bridgewater Without, Somerset, England.

Stephen and his siblings attended the Bridgewater Public School and on leaving school Stephen gained employment with his father at the Bridgewater Brickyards as a labourer.

Stephen’s brother Charles enlisted into the Royal Marine Light Infantry, Plymouth Division, on the 4th of January 1908.
Then his brother William married on the 31st of May 1909.

Stephen married Rose Elizabeth BURGE on the 24th of December 1910 in St Mary’s Church, Bridgewater, Somerset, England.
Rose was the daughter of Richard BURGE & Mary Ann BUNYAN and was born in 1886 in Bridgewater, Somerset, England.

Then 2 days later another brother, Ernest, married on the 26th of December.

Stephen and Rose made their first home at 23 Russell Place, Bridgewater and welcomed their first child; Beatrice Rose, in April 1911, but sadly she died 2 months later.

In 1912, the BRITTON family decided to move to South Australia.

Stephen Snr, Stephen, and his brother Frederick, arrived in South Australia on board the Geelong on the 28th of November 1912 and their immigration papers listed them as farmers.

Then on the 7th of January 1913, Rose (8 months pregnant), his mother Ellen and siblings; Edward, Bertie, Albert, Ellen, Eliza, Henry and Gwendoline arrived in South Australia, on board the Beltana.

Just 20 days after arriving in South Australia, Rose gave birth to their son; Stephen Lionel, on the 27th of January 1913 in Bowden.
Stephen gained employment as a brickyard labourer with Messrs John Hallet & Sons, of Brompton and they moved to Coglin Street, Brompton.

With the outbreak of WW1 the BRITTON brothers began to enlist to serve their country;

Bertie (2973) & Edward (2799) enlisted on the 8th of June 1915 into the 10th Battalion and embarked together from Adelaide, on board HMAT A15 Star Of England on the 21st of September 1915.

Frederick (4140) enlisted on the 17th of August 1915 into the 12th Battalion and embarked from Adelaide, on board HMAT A30 Borda on the 11th of January 1916.

Then William (63977), back in England, enlisted into the Cheshire Regiment on the 10th of December 1915.

At the age of 30, Stephen enlisted into the AIF on the 18th of February 1916 in Adelaide, SA and was allotted the service number 625 and posted to E Company, 2nd Depot Battalion.
He was then transferred to the newly raised 43rd Battalion, D Company in Morphettville Camp.

Stephen embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A19 Afric at 2pm on the 9th of June 1916 and disembarked in Marseilles on the 20th of July.
He then re embarked for England where he continued training at Larkhill.
Whilst he was here his brother Bertie (2793), who had been serving with the 4th Pioneer Battalion, when he was Killed in Action at Becourt Wood, near Albert, France, on the 3rd of August 1916.

Then Edward (2799), who had been serving with the 50th Battalion, suffered a Gun Shot Wound that shattered his right foot at Brickfields, ½ mile from Albert, France, on the 16th of August 1916. He later had his foot amputated and was invalided home to Australia on the 4th of May 1917.

Stephen proceeded to France on the 25th of November 1916.

His brother Frederick (4140), who had been serving with the 12th Battalion, was then Killed in Action in Malt Trench, near Le Sars, France, on the 26th of February 1917.
In July Stephen suffered from constipation and abdominal colic caused by Nervous exhaustion and was eventually evacuated back to England on the 4th of August.

On the 14th of December 1917 Stephen applied to return to Australia due to his 2 brothers already being killed and 1 having returned to Australia with a foot amputation, out of the 6 brothers who were already serving.
Unfortunately, whilst Stephen was waiting on the Military Authorities to verify and approved his early return, Edward died on the 7th Australian General Hospital in Keswick on the 29th of May 1918 and was buried in the Hindmarsh Cemetery; Lower I15.

It wasn’t until early August 1918 that approval was given for Stephen to return to Australia on compassionate family ground.

During this time his brother Ernest enlisted into the 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert’s), as part of 11th Brigade, 4th Division, and had embarked for France on the 18th of October 1918.

Stephen finally embarked from England on the 23rd of September 1918 on board HT Runic and whilst on the voyage his brother Ernest was Killed in Action on the 24th of October and was buried in the Verchain British Cemetery, France.

Stephen disembarked in Adelaide on the 25th of November and was discharged from the AIF on the 9th of December 1918.

Seven of the 8 brothers had enlisted during WW1, 4 with the AIF, 2 with the BIF and 1 with Royal Navy.
The youngest brother Henry was too young to enlist.

The War cost this patriotic family dearly, with 3 brothers being Killed in Action and another having died of his injuries.

Stephen returned to Rose and little Stephen and they made their first home at 41 Second Street, Brompton Park Extension and Stephen returned to his employment as a bricklayer’s labourer.

By 1925 they had moved to 41 Mann Street, Brompton Park Extension and then by 1930 they had moved to 5 Brown Street, Brompton.

They then moved to 39 West Street, Brompton, 37 Coglin Street, Brompton and then 49 Coglin Street, Brompton.

On the 31st of October 1940 Stephen as almost completely covered when two tons of earth fell on him in a pughole in John Street, Welland, about 1.15p.m.
He was excavating clay in the pughole which was owned by John Hallett & Son, Ltd.
After workmates had freed him, he was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a South Australian Ambulance and admitted with a severely crushed left arm and an injury to his left leg.

With the outbreak of WW2, their son Stephen enlisted on the 6th of March 1941 (S23784). He attended Warradale Camp with the 43rd & then the 48th Battalion before he was discharged, medically unfit, on the 11th of February 1942.

Rose died on the 6th of April 1942 in the Adelaide Hospital and Stephen buried her the following day in the Hindmarsh Cemetery; Section Eastern, D2.

Their son Stephen died on the 25th of February 1950 in the Adelaide Hospital and Stephen buried him in the Hindmarsh Cemetery; Section Eastern, D2, with Rose.

Stephen died on the 1st of March 1965 and was buried 2 days later in the Hindmarsh Cemetery; Section Eastern, D2, with Rose & Stephen.

Military

At the age of 30, Stephen enlisted into the AIF on the 18th of February 1916 in Adelaide, SA and was allotted the service number 625 and posted to E Company, 2nd Depot Battalion.
He listed his wife, of Coglin Street, Brompton, as his next of kin.

On the 1st of March he was transferred to the newly raised 43rd Battalion, D Company in Morphettville Camp.
The Battalion consisted of men who had but recently enlisted, and were practically raw recruits, most of whom had joined up in January and February.

Early in April musketry was commenced throughout the Battalion with each section forming a separate squad and undergoing ten days progressive instruction in the art of handling the rifle, the course being completed by the firing of an application and grouping practice on the miniature range in the dry bed of the Sturt River.
An open range was prepared in the sand hills between Glenelg and Henley, where for two days portions of the Battalion were engaged with the service rifle; but the working of these targets proved so slow and tedious that arrangements were made to secure the use of the butts at Port Adelaide, special trains conveying the troops to and from this place. Two complete days firing was given to each company, during which grouping, application, snap shooting, and rapid practices at 100, 200, and 300 yards were completed.

Stephen gained four days leave, known as "long leave," on the 19th and this embraced the Easter Holidays, this being the last furlough granted prior to the Battalion's departure from Australia. The free weekends still being maintained and to those living within thirty miles of Adelaide, when desired, was extended to Monday morning.

The Battalion attended a number of functions and ceremonies, chief among which were the presentation of colours at Glenelg, the Military Tattoo on the Jubilee Oval, and the farewell dinner provided in the Exhibition Building by the Cheer-up Society; while occasional trips to the theatre were arranged, special trains usually being provided for the conveyance of the Unit to and from Morphettville. A certain amount of amusement was supplied within the camp on several occasions by concert parties.

During the whole period of training, equipment and clothing were gradually issued and they were fitted out for departure, signing for every article received and having numerous inspections to ascertain what shortages existed. The health of the men also received continuous attention, vaccination and two inoculations being administered in the early days, while dental inspections and subsequent treatment rectified any defects of the mouth.

The first week of June was spent in final preparations to embark on the 9th of June, the quartermasters and clerical departments being the most busily engaged. A final pay was drawn and as much leave as possible granted and by the 8th all preparations for embarkation had been completed, and the transport section had left for the Outer Harbour.

Dawn of June 9th was breaking behind the Mount Lofty Ranges when reveille sounded, rousing the whole camp to the activities of final preparations for departure, including the handing in of camp equipment and stores.

At 9.40 a.m. the first train, bearing Headquarters and A and B Companies, left Morphettville Station followed half-an-hour later by a second train with the remainder of the Battalion, including Stephen.
On reaching Port Adelaide the train proceeded by the old route down St. Vincent Street, where a large and enthusiastic crowd assembled to bid farewell to the unit. An hour later the Outer Harbour was reached and there followed a rapid embarkation on board their transport, HMAT A19 Afric.

Stephen embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A19 Afric at 2pm on the 9th of June 1916 and Stephen now realised that this was the commencement of the long, long trail, the end of which none could foretell.

The journey through The Bight was cold and rough, causing sickness to 70 per cent of the men. Land was first sighted at daybreak of the 13th of June and after passing through King George Sound they anchored in Albany Harbour at 11.30 am, when coaling immediately commenced.
The next day the boat drew alongside the wharf, and all were allowed ashore for a few hours.
At noon the same day the journey was resumed and soon the shores of Stephen’s homeland receded from view.
That night it was learnt that the next port of call would be Colombo. As the result of a long period of calm weather that followed the departure from Albany, it was possible to conduct training, consisting of musketry, physical exercises, bayonet fighting, and boat drill, limited in extent by the small area of deck space available.

As the tropics were approached, permission to sleep on deck was granted, and a large majority, including Stephen availed themselves of the privilege. By day a minimum amount of clothing was worn, the heavier uniform being abandoned for the lighter and more comfortable suit of dungarees.

Early on the morning of June 26th the island of Ceylon was sighted and by 10am the transport anchored in the harbour of Colombo. Coal barges were soon drawn along side the boat and coaling operations, conducted by the natives, commenced.
That afternoon they were taken ashore on lighters and marched to the military barracks in Colombo. There a wet canteen was placed at the disposal of the troops and native vendors of views, fruit, etc., offered their goods. As this was the first opportunity for some weeks of purchasing articles from other than the ship's canteen a brisk business resulted.

The following day the journey resumed at 3.45 p.m.
The voyage to Suez differed very little from the previous fortnight, except that during the four days in the Red Sea extreme heat was experienced, causing exhaustion to several of the stokers, whose work was undertaken for two days by volunteers from the troops.
By noon of July 11th Suez was reached and all preparations for disembarkation were completed.
Orders were, however, received from the military authorities that the journey was to be continued through the Mediterranean and at 4 pm an entrance was made into the Canal, the interesting surroundings of which attracted attention for sixteen hours. Along the bank were encamped Australian and English troops, who formed a portion of the Canal Garrison. An opportunity to converse with some of these was afforded by the boat being delayed for an hour at Ismalia.

By 8.30 am on the 12th the Canal was cleared and entry made into Port Said, where a transport conveying English troops southward was passed. Natives were again employed in coaling, which caused much inconvenience to those on board, as no leave ashore was granted. Numerous hawkers in small dinghies visited the boat, but not being allowed on deck were obliged to transact their sales by means of rope and basket.
Here an A 4.7 naval gun was mounted aft and manned by Royal Navy gunners and on departure at 2pm on the 13th, H.M. destroyer "Telmar," which had seen service with the Australians on Gallipoli, acted as their escort. These protective measures against submarines were augmented by the pre cautions of constant changes of course, screening of lights, and increase of sentries, whose duty was the outlook for enemy craft.

On passing Malta, the "Telmar" was relieved by a larger destroyer, but before departing semaphored "Australians, good-bye and good luck," on receipt of which cheers were interchanged between transport and escort. Daily routine on board continued until Marseilles was approached on the evening of July 19th, when at 10 pm the pilot was taken aboard, but the harbour was not entered until eight o'clock the next morning. This ended a six weeks successful journey on the "Afric".

At 3 pm on July 20th they disembarked and moved to Arran-Point Station, where they immediately entrained and at 5.35 pm left for Havre.
The journey through Southern France was most interesting, new types of villages, cultivation, and railway organisation being introduced. The scenery, especially that of the Rhone Valley, was superb, and the bright mid summer day showed the surroundings at their best.

A halt was made near Avignon, where hot tea and rations were issued, and on resumption of the journey the troops quickly settled down for the night. At 8am on the 21st the train passed through Lyons, and at 3.45pm Dijon was reached, and the French Red Cross workers served tea and cake to the Battalion.
Breakfast next morning was partaken of thirteen miles from Paris, Juvisy, from which, after a halt of two hours, the journey continued through Versailles, along the Seine Valley to Nantes, where a break was made for another meal, thence to Rouen and Havre.
Here the Battalion detrained and marched to a Rest Camp, where most of the men spent a cold night on cobbles. The following afternoon embarkation for England took place, and at dusk the Channel transport commenced its six-hour journey, reaching Southampton at daybreak and they disembarked at 7.30am.

After two hours waiting on the wharf they were entrained for Amesbury Station on Salisbury Plain, where the Battalion detrained. An hour later Lark Hill was reached and the whole afternoon devoted to settling down in No.12 Camp. This was the training area for the 43rd Battalion prior to its departure for the front.
The first few days were spent in settling down in this new camp, which was one of about fifty of similar design located at Lark Hill, most of which were so fitted as to accommodate a complete battalion.

They spent the next few months here in training and on the 26th of October Stephen went AWOL for 24 hours and was awarded 4 days confined to barracks.
Then towards the end of November, when they had been fully equipped for overseas, a divisional march, covering a distance of eighteen miles, was accomplished, the full issue of clothing and equipment, less blankets, being carried, the day proving most strenuous on account of the oppressive heat.

During the first three weeks of November final preparations and issue of equipment for the trip overseas were completed, and the dates of departure of the Division were expected to cover the last week of November 1916, the 43rd Battalion eventually sailing on the 25th, prior to which the camp was thoroughly cleaned and the bulk of stores returned.

The early morning of November 25th was a repetition of June 9th. For the purpose of the move the Battalion was divided into three parties, leaving Lark Hill Camp in time to entrain at Amesbury Station by 7.15am. The weight of equipment carried by each man was far in excess of that borne on any previous march, as in addition to full marching order, two blankets, 150 rounds of ammunition, with steel and gas helmets, made a burden in all cases exceeding 80 lb.
At dusk the trip across the Channel commenced and a heavy sea was experienced, causing sea sickness to many on board, while a bleak wind with frequent showers of hail made the entry into the harbour at Le Havre and the period of waiting intensely cold.

Disembarkation and unloading commenced at 11am and during the afternoon there followed the memorable route march to No.1 Rest Camp, situated on a hill about three miles from the wharf. Here they remained for the night, leaving at 6.30am next morning for the railway yards, where a troop train, consisting chiefly of cattle trucks, was waiting, and at 11.30am they left for Bailleul.
The journey, via Rouen, Abbeville, Boulogne, Calais, and St. Omer, occupied thirty hours, halts being made en route for the issue of rations and hot drinks.
Detraining was completed before dark, but by the time the unit moved from the station night had set in. For the march to billets, packs and blankets were carried by motor lorry. Locating these billets caused great difficulty, owing to the lack of information and absence of guides, and it was not until after 10 pm that they were settled for the night.

On December 23rd, in a high wind and through heavy rain, a march to new billets in Armentieres was carried out. They, with the 44th Battalion, formed support to the 41st and 42nd Battalions.
Christmas Day 1916 was celebrated in the morning with working parties to the line and in the evening by a dinner, extra supplies being obtained through Comforts and Regimental Funds.

They spent February 1917 in and out of the front line and whilst in billets the raiding school continued training in bayonet fighting, physical exercises, patrolling, study of aeroplane photographs and practice of raiding formations on dummy trenches.

By the 29th of April they were at Ploegsteert Wood, relieving the 42nd Battalion.

On the 1st of May they left Armentieres and joined the remainder of the Brigade at Les Trois Tilleuls, proceeding through Steenwerck and Vieux Berquin to Petit See Bois. The following day they moved through Pradelles, Borre, and Hazebrouck to billets at Ebblinghem.

After 2 weeks here they commenced their journey back to Armentiers and by the 7th of June had moved to Messines and took part in the Battle.
Throughout the whole time in this area enemy aircraft proved exceptionally active, especially in the early morning, when low-flying planes engaged trenches and movement with machine gun fire.
The famous Red Circus, commanded by Baron von Richthoven, was stationed in the area and was a constant source of worry to both infantry and artillery.

As casualties were caused daily, chiefly from shell fire, and the strain of sitting under continuous bombardments told on the nerves of everybody, the relief by the 41st Battalion on July 5th, and the return to the somewhat quieter support area on the banks of the Douve, was truly welcome.

The following day Stephen suffered from constipation and abdominal colic caused by Nervous exhaustion and was admitted into the 9th Australian Field Ambulance for 3 days.
He then rejoined his Battalion in Specialised Training, but then suffered from indigestion on the 31st of July and was admitted into the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station in Trois Arbres and the following day he was transferred by Ambulance Train to the 54th General Hospital at Aubergue.
Three days later he was evacuated to England on board HS St Andrews and admitted into the 1st Southern General Hospital at Maryhill.

He spent nearly 3 weeks here before he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford on the 23rd of August.
Six days later he was discharged and granted 2 weeks leave and then reported to No.1 Command Depot in Perham Downs on the 12th of September.
On the 31st of October he was medically classified B1A3 (fit for overseas training camp in two to three weeks) and then on the 9th of November he was reclassified as A3 (fit for overseas training camp, to which transferred for hardening, prior to rejoining unit overseas).

On the 14th of December 1917 Stephen applied to return to Australia due to his 2 brothers already being killed and 1 having returned to Australia with a foot amputation, out of the 6 brothers who were already serving.

*Charles (14350) had been serving in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, Plymouth Division, since the 4th of January 1908 and was still serving.

*William (63977) had been serving with the Cheshire Regiment since the 10th of December 1915 and was still serving

*Bertie (2793) had been serving with the 4th Pioneer Battalion when he was Killed in Action at Becourt Wood, near Albert, France, on the 3rd of August 1916.

*Frederick (4140) had been serving with the 12th Battalion when he was Killed in Action in Malt Trench, near Le Sars, France, on the 26th of February 1917.

*Edward (Ted) (2799) had been serving with the 50th Battalion when he suffered a Gun Shot Wound that shattered his right foot at Brickfields, ½ mile from Albert, France, on the 16th of August 1916.
He had his foot amputated and was invalided home to Australia on the 4th of May 1917.

Unfortunately, whilst Stephen was waiting on the Military Authorities to verify and approved his early return, Edward died on the 7th Australian General Hospital in Keswick on the 29th of May 1918.

It wasn’t until early August 1918 that approval was given for Stephen to return to Australia on compassionate family ground and he was transferred to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth.

During this time his brother Ernest enlisted into the 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert’s), as part of 11th Brigade, 4th Division, and had embarked for France on the 18th of October 1918.

Stephen finally embarked from England on the 23rd of September 1918 on board HT Runic and whilst on the voyage his brother Ernest was Killed in Action on the 24th of October and was buried in the Verchain British Cemetery, France.

Stephen disembarked in Adelaide on the 25th of November and was discharged from the AIF on the 9th of December 1918.
He was and awarded the British War & Victory Medals.