Edward Harold's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Edward Harold Brittain was born on 30 November and baptised on 27 December 1895 at St Michael's Church, Macclesfield, the son of Edith Mary and Thomas Arthur Brittain, a paper manufacturer of "Glen Bank", Chester Road, Macclesfield. In 1901, five-year-old Edward was living at that address with his parents and older sister Vera, aged seven. By 1911, Edward was a boarder at Uppingham School, Rutland, while the rest of the family lived at "Melrose", Park Road, Buxton.
Edward's parents returned to Macclesfield in 1916 to live at "Sunny Bank", Upton; they later moved to 10 Oakwood Court, Kensington, London.
MILITARY SERVICE
On 8 July 1916 the Macclesfield Courier reported that Edward Brittain had been wounded:
LIEUT E H BRITTAIN - Mr T A Brittain, of Sunnybank, Upton, has received intimation this week that his only son, Lieutenant Edward Harold Brittain, of the Sherwood Foresters, was wounded at the battle of the Somme on Saturday, and is now in hospital in France. Our readers will probably remember that for many years, up to ten years ago, Mr and Mrs Brittain resided at Glenbank, Chester Road, where their son, Lieutenant Brittain, was born. Some ten years ago they went to reside in Derbyshire, and recently returned to Macclesfield. Lieutenant Brittain received his commission in November, 1915, and he has been on active service since February last.
Lieut. Brittain was awarded the Military Cross for his actions at the Battle of the Somme. The Sheffield Independent reported on 21 October 1916 that it was awarded:
For conspicuous gallantry and leadership during an attack. He was severely wounded, but continued to lead his men with great bravery and coolness until a second wound disabled him.
The death of Captain Brittain was reported in the Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal on 28 June 1918:
A SHERWOOD OFFICER: Captain Edward Harold Brittain, M.C., Sherwood Foresters, who was killed on June 15th, aged 22, was the only son of Mr and Mrs T A Brittain, of 10 Oakwood Court, Kensington, formerly of Melrose, Buxton. He went to France in February 1916 and was wounded on July 1st of that year, at the Battle of the Somme, on which occasion he was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and leadership. He returned to France on June 30th 1917 and saw considerable fighting in the Passchendaele Offensive. In November of the same year his battalion was sent with the first British Expeditionary Force to another front, where he was killed in a recent important engagement.
COMMEMORATION
Captain Edward Brittain is buried at Granezza British Cemetery, in grave ref. Plot 1. Row B. Grave 1. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Captain Edward Brittain, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War website.
Locally, Captain Edward Brittain is commemorated on the Macclesfield Park Green and Buxton (The Slopes) civic war memorials, and Holmleigh Preparatory School war memorial (in St John's Church, Buxton). Captain Brittain's M.C. was originally omitted from the Buxton war memorial; it is understood that this was not corrected until 1985.
Elsewhere, he is commemorated on the Uppingham School roll of honour, and on the Uppingham School Chapel war memorial.
NOTES
Brother of Vera Brittain, who served as a Red Cross VAD in London, Malta and Étaples, France and was the author of Testament of Youth.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births
Cheshire Parish Baptism Registers: St Michael’s Church, Macclesfield
Census (England & Wales): 1901, 1911
Lives of the First World War website
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Courier: 8 July 1916
Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal: 28 June 1918
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.