Charles Britton

 

SS Citta Di Palermo 
credit - wrecksite

On 8^th of January, 1916, the SS Citta Di Palermo, an Italian transport vessel, departed from Brindisi. The ship carried numerous troops destined for Durazzo, including a British contingent comprising four officers and 139 other ranks, primarily from the 259^th, 273^rd, and 605^th Motor Transport Companies of the Army Service Corps. It is believed that the vessel was en route to the Salonika theatre of war in northern Greece.

The Allies were unaware that UC14, a German submarine, laid mines outside the harbour on the 10^th of December 1915. At 8:30 a.m., SS Citta di Palermo left for Durazzo, Albania, and hit a mine six miles northeast of Brindisi, sinking almost immediately. Several Royal Navy drifters attempted rescue but also struck mines; they included Frenchy, Cravenwood, and Morning Star.

The number on board the SS Citta di Palermo was just over 200, of whom about half were saved, including 84 British. 57 lives were lost on the troopship

Charles Britton
Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton
credit - findagrave

The names of the 87, including Private Charles Britton, are commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton.

The Hollybrook Memorial honours nearly 1,900 Commonwealth land and air service members with unknown graves, many lost in torpedoed or mined vessels in home waters. It also commemorates those lost or buried at sea, or who died at home but were not recoverable for burial. Naval personnel with no grave but the sea are honoured on separate memorials.

Charles Britton, born in 1887, was the son of William Britton, who was born in Somerset, and Elizabeth Evans, who was born in Swansea.

At the time of the 1891 Census, the Britton family was living at 14 Wern Terrace, St. Thomas.

1891 Census

William, aged 50, was employed at the Spelter Works, and Elizabeth was 43 years old. Their children were:

Elizabeth Ann, 19; John H., 15; Arthur, 12; William, 7, all attended school. Charles, 4, and Florie, 2.

At the time of the 1901 Census, the Britton family was living at 14 Wern Terrace, St. Thomas.

1901 Census

William, aged 60, was employed at the Spelter Works, and Elizabeth was 55 years old. Their children were:

John H., 25; Arthur. J., 22; and William, 17, who were all employed at the Spelter Works. Charles, 14; Florrie, 12; and Sidney, 8.

The family were still living at 14 Wern Terrace at the time of the 1911 Census.

1911 Census

William, aged 70, a Labourer, was employed by the Spelter Works, and Elizabeth was 62 years old. Their children were:

John H., 35, a Labourer, was employed at the Swansea Docks; Arthur J., 32, and William, 27, both Labourers, were employed by the Spelter Works.  Charles, 18, was a Railway Fitter, employed by the Railways, whilst Sidney J., 18, was a Labourer, employed by the Spelter Works.

Charles’s Attestation Papers have survived, and he enlisted on the 20^th of February 1915.

Charles Britton
Attestation Papers

Staff Serjeant James Houston, from Clifton Hill, was a victim of the sinking of SS Citta di Palermo