Lance Corporal William B Brittain

William Blake Brittain grew up in South Africa but enlisted from Moordown, Bournemouth into the Hampshire Regiment.

He volunteered for airborne forces and was posted to 1st Airborne Divisional Signals.

Signalman Brittain served on Operation Torch in North Africa.

L/Corporal ‘Bill’ Brittain saw active service on Operation Market Garden and returned across the river in the early hours of Wednesday 27th September after having to hide in a haystack with another man, when they had to retreat from the river on the Monday night.

When he arrived in England 22 year old L/Cpl Brittain returned home with a gift of tinned peaches for his mother Emily, only to discover she had died suddenly the week before.

After demob he was a member of Bournemouth Fire Brigade until he emigrated to the United States of America, with his wife Phyl and two young daughters. He made his home in Long Island New York.

He died in North Carolina in 1981.

Profile photo from The Bournemouth Echo dated 29 August 1984.