Walter William Brittain (1892-1917)

Walter was born in Fitzroy, Victoria in 1892 (reference). He was the only son of Walter and Alice Brittain of Wellington Street, Bunbury (reference). His father was an undertaker in Bunbury and Walter joined him in this business when he was old enough (reference). His fathers business was established in 1897 on Wellington Street, Bunbury before it moved to Spencer Street (reference). Walter died in Belgium on 12 October 1917 and is commemorated at the Ypres Memorial.

Walter was very young when his parents arrived in Bunbury. He won prizes at both the public school and Wesleyan Sunday School for full attendance (reference; reference). His family were involved in the Wesley Methodist Church in Bunbury. Walter helped with the church exhibitions and sang in the church choir (reference; reference). As a young adult, Walter was active in the Wesley Guild which organised various social events and performances. Through the Guild, Walter was involved in quite varied performances. In 1913 he played Speed in the Two Gentlemen of Verona at a Shakespearean evening (reference). He was also part of the Red Geraniums performance group and sang a parody in their first concert (reference). In 1914, he was noted as a ‘clever comedian’ and in 1915 he performed a ‘humorous musical monologue’ in a fundraising concert for the Wesley Church (reference; reference) 

Walter was also a well known sportsman. He played cricket but his first love was lawn bowls (reference). Over his years of involvement with the Bunbury Bowling Club, he won several trophies (reference; reference; reference). Walter was also the secretary of the bowling club for several years and the Southern Times noted his enthusiasm for the game a couple of times saying in 1912: “Walter Brittain is a most energetic Secretary, that he has added numerous names to the membership list the while he descanted upon the many virtues of "ye ancient game of bowles." (reference) and in 1913: “the hustling Secretary, Wal Brittain has already button-holed members of our staff with the request 'Are you going to join our club this season?"

Walter was also involved in community projects such as organising to build a band stand on Rocky Beach in 1914 (reference). From the various humorous stories told in the newspapers, Walter seemed to be a good natured, well liked young man. These include being attacked by a ‘dawg’, a failed fishing trip, attempting to kill a dugite and being presented with a bouquet of vegetables (reference; reference; reference; reference).

Walter attempted to enlist several times before he was finally accepted in 1916 (reference). Walter and another local boy, Mayne McCombe, started their training together in July 1916 (reference). Both joined the 48th Battalion and served together whilst carrying out operations in France. (reference).

Walter was killed in action on 12 October 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium. Mrs Brittain received a letter detailing his death from his platoon leader, Lieut. Henderson, which said that: 

"Wally was killed instantly by a shell on Oct. 12 at about 3 a.m. Though recently joined, "he was immensely popular with everyone, and had he made it through this stunt, was down for rapid promotion. He had my full confidence, and I am proud to have had him in my platoon, both as a soldier and a friend. He was buried where he fell, and a cross erected at his head. . . His grave is in Belgium . . . about 1.000 yards N.E. from Zonnebeke." (reference)

Sergent Polkinghorne, another soldier who knew Walter, also wrote to Mrs Brittain:

"Just before going into the line he gave me the enclosed letter to post to you in London, as I was coming over on leave. Before I left, I heard of your son's death, he having been killed by a shell with several others of my platoon going into the trenches the night of the memorable fight for Passchendaele Ridge, which they then took from the Germans and held on to all day, only to be driven out again that night by one of the biggest counter attacks he ever launched against us. They were driven out for want of artillery support and reinforcements" (reference).

His sister’s erected a plaque in the Bunbury Methodist Church which was unveiled at a memorial service on 30 August 1919. It was inscribed:

To the memory of Walter William Brittain 48th Battalion A.I.F. Beloved son of William and Alice Brittain, who fell in action at Passchendaele on 12th October 1917, aged 25 years. ‘Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends,’ (reference)

Walter invested in a number of rental properties in Bunbury (reference) and his father attempted to sell what is now known as 2 Eliot Street in 1923 (reference). However, Walter’s sister Mrs Elizabeth Gale was the owner in 1930 (reference) so the attempt to sell must have been unsuccessful.

Extracts of letters received from Sergeant Walter Brittain 

48th Battalion Service No: 3104B

April 19th, 1917

I will try and give you a full description of my four days' visit to the "Hub of the Universe." We were very unfortunate as regards the weather, as it snowed very heavily for three of the days, which greatly militated against enjoying our long looked for leave to the full. The time was all too short (also the money, as the cost of living is enormous in England). To get a thorough insight into all the places of interest it would take at least three months. We left Codford at 7.30 a.m. on Friday, but it was nearly mid-day before we were dismissed outside the A.I.F. headquarters at Horseferry road. We wasted no time— hailed a taxi, and were soon spinning away to the National Hotel, Russell Square, where we stayed. Of course, the first thing a soldier does as soon as the opportunity offers is to get a decent feed, regardless of expense, as camp fare becomes unpalatable. It cost us 5s. 2d. each for our dinner (the same would have cost 1s. 6d. in W.A.). London is not the London of pre-war days, the place being in darkness at night, to guard against Zeppelin attacks. I visited most of the places of interest, and will endeavor to give you a brief description and history of the more important. The first is the Royal Horse Guards, Whitehall, founded in 1758. This is where the Horse Guards parade and troop the colors on the King's birthday. Field-Marshal Lord French's headquarters are also situated here. Visited Downing-street, the home of the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer; also saw the Foreign Office (Earl Grey), India Office (Mr. A. J. Balfour), and the Admiralty, which has a Marconi installation on the roof, from which are received and transmitted all messages to and from the Navy. Proceeding, we came to The Mall, showing Carlton House-terrace, containing the homes of such illustrious personages as Lord Astor, Lord Mount Stephen, Lord Cowdray, Lord Lonsdale (the boxing peer), Lord Ridley (who lent his house as a hospital for wounded officers). Around to the left we came to a bold statue erected in memory of the Duke of York (the man who had 10,000 men, marched them up the hill and marched them down again). Here also on the left are the homes of Lord Curzon, Sir James Horlick (of malted milk fame), Mr. A. J. Balfour; also Marlborough House (home of Queen Alexandra, built in 1709), St. James's Palace (built 1532), Clarence House (home of the Duke of Connaught), Stafford House (home of the Duke of Suther- land, built 1821). Now we came to Empire Square, so called because each of the four colonies has a gate leading into it. At present the Canadian gate is the only one in a finished state, the war having interfered with the completion of the others. Here is situated the memorial to Queen Victoria, which you will remember was unveiled by her unworthy grandson the Kaiser. The memorial is a magnificent piece of work, and the cost was £300,000. In peacetime forty men are employed rubbing it down with pumice stone. Owing to this having been neglected, the memorial presents a dirty appearance. All the marble figures in the work are symbolical, and it would take pages to describe them, so you will have to forego that pleasure until my return. Right opposite is Buckingham Palace, built 1703, over which is erected a bomb proof shelter. The guide pointed out to me where King Edward passed away. All I have been writing about is the famous West End, and it is only right that Rotten Row should be mentioned here. This is where all the fashionable people rule a straight gallop of over two miles being obtainable. Proceeding in the direction of Pall Mall, we come to the home of Lord Byron, the poet (1788). Just about here is situated the oldest shop in London (288 years old), and the present head of the firm is a direct descendant of the original one. Besides being the oldest, it is the most expensive. Here also is the famous firm of Christie's, the auctioneers, established in 1766 ; also the oldest hotel in London, "The Red Lion,'' where King Edward when Prince of Wales used to visit in mufti. A remarkable fact is conveyed to one here, and it is as follows: I can stand at the door of a bottle-o merchant's place and land a cricket ball on the top of the home of Queen Alexandra — the two extremes of life. We now enter Pall Mall, the home of the clubs, namely, the Guards, Oxford and Cambridge Universities, Carlton, Reform, etc. The two latter are the two political clubs. At present the Carlton Club is in power, the Reform containing the opposition members. The next place visited was St. James's Square, laid out in 1690. I was extremely pleased to include this in my itinerary, as it enabled me to see the home of three Prime Ministers, to wit— Pitt (1708), Derby (1799). and Gladstone (1809), to my mind the three greatest statesmen England has produced. At the entrance are still to be seen the old-fashioned snuffers, which were used to put out the pine torches. Among other places situated in this Square is the Sports Club (the headquarters of all the big game shooters of the world), the home of Lord Enfield, of rifle fame. A relic of England's fight for world supremacy is to be found here in the shape of cannons which were captured from the French in 1747 off Cape Finisterre, which are doing service as lamp posts. Moving on, we come to the residence of Dr. Ingram, Bishop of London, and adjoining it that of the late Duke of Norfolk, who died a couple of months ago (the present duke is only nine years old). In this locality is a statue of Florence Nightingale, "the lady of the lamp" and founder of the Red Cross. One cannot overestimate the honor and indebtedness we owe to this splendid character and example of English womanhood. Who hasn't read of or seen a picture of Nelson's monument in Trafalgar Square? It is indeed a fitting tribute to England's greatest sailor, whose memorable words uttered at Trafalgar were never truer than they are to-day: "England expects that every man this day will do his duty." It covers a great area of ground, and is the predominating feature of the Strand. I shall always look upon it as one of my greatest stand-byes, as if ever I got into a   "I don't know where we are" tangle, I adopted the plan of jumping into a taxi, and in reply to the chauffeur's enquiry, "Where to?'' would answer, "Nelson's Monument." From here I used to work round again, until I repeated the foregoing. On one side of the Square is the statue of King Charles I. He is depicted on horseback, looking down towards Whitehall, where he was unfortunate enough to lose his head. A brass plate on the wall near the Horse Guards marks the spot where his execution took place. I visited St. Martin's Church (1721), the only place in England that had a king for a church warden, namely, George I : also the "Old Curiosity Shop," 285 years old. I managed to squeeze in Covent Garden Market, the spot where the bombs were dropped in London Last year, evidence still remaining of the force of their explosion. The Law Courts and Temple Church (founded in 1185) were also visited. This latter place was very interesting, as it was here that was founded the order of Knights Templar. In the church are several tombs of crusaders. The organ in this church is considered to be one of the finest in England, and was presented by the infamous Judge Jefferies, known in history as the hanging judge. On the left is the tomb of Oliver Goldsmith, also the house in which he lived. The Tower of London was our next place of call, which was commenced in 1066 by William the Conqueror to defend the city from foreign enemies, and to keep it under subjection to himself. To take a visit to the Tower and stand in the "Bloody Tower" for a few minutes, even one who is devoid of imagination cannot help there rising before him a picture of the various scenes enacted in that very room. One's mind goes back to the fate of the two Princes, Raleigh, Lady Jane Grey and Earl Dudley. The collection of armor used in the Middle Ages is of a special interest, owing to the present idea of adopting ancient weapons of warfare, such as the trench mortars, which were in use hundreds of years ago. Who can tell with any degree of accuracy that armor will not again come into vogue. The Crown jewels were a fascinating sight, no doubt the greed for gold which seems to be inbred in human nature being responsible for this. The whole collection is valued at seven millions for insurance purposes, otherwise they are priceless. It is only fitting that such a place as the Tower, with its unenviable record, should be the locality where German spies meet their fate. They are placed against the wall of the moat (which has been filled in and cemented) and there pay the penalty of  their crimes. St. Paul's is a magnificent place, as will be seen by the booklets. I will only mention the "Whispering Gallery," which is an astounding realisation to one like myself, who had no conception of what he was going to experience. I walked about 100 feet around the gallery inside the dome, when a voice bade me stop. I turned round quickly to see who the order came from. Judge of my astonishment to find no one there! The voice bade me sit down, and began to tell me the history of the Cathedral. I then realised that the words were being uttered by an official on the other side of the gallery. He informed me afterwards he was only speaking in a whisper. Westminster Abbey is so well known that it would be superfluous for me to try and describe it. My visit to London I wouldn't have deemed complete without paying a call at Madame Tussaud's waxworks. The figures were alarmingly lifelike, including all present well-known identities — it mattered not whether they were great soldiers, politicians, or villains steeped in crime ; so long as they loom big in the public eye, they have a place in this wonderful exhibition. I had the good fortune to see Sir John Jellicoe, who was returning to his home after being to church with his wife and two children. The photos so common in Australia are the image of him. The underground tubes are very fast, warm and comfortable to travel by. The fares are ridiculously cheap. A moving platform or stair is installed, to facilitate the transit of passengers. One thing I noticed was the woman labor, which was to be found on the motor 'buses, taxis, and all kinds of motor transport. Now I think you will agree with me that I got about a bit in the time at my disposal. My only regret is that it wasn't two months longer!

July 5th 1917

By these views you will see I am on the fair shores of France, having come over on conducting duty — that is, bringing a draft across, to the base. We (Mayne McCombe) left Salisbury 11.10 a.m. for Folkestone, which we reached at 4 a.m. Monday morning. Marched to the rest of the camp which, by the way, consists of mansions overlooking the sea, which have been commandeered by the military ; had breakfast, and at 7.30 boarded the boat for France. The trip was done in record time, taking a little over an hour and a quarter. There were numerous mine sweepers at work and ample destroyers escorted us. We disembarked at Boulogne, and marched to the rest camp, had dinner, and finally left for the base at Rouelles at 4.30 p.m. The trip was done in cattle trucks— thirty-six to forty in a truck. The time occupied on the journey was sixteen hours, so it was not altogether a pleasure trip. I will leave a description of France until my return trip to England. We go via Le Havre for that journey, landing at Southampton. Rouelles, the Australian base, is only five miles from that port. Mayne and I went in yesterday afternoon per train, the fare being ten centimes, or one penny. I am quite an adept already at getting the equivalent of French money for English. A franc at present is worth in pence 8.7, an English pound note is 28.4 francs. When You change any English money you get a roll of notes, the lowest note of all being ½  franc, value 4d. So you see fellows with a pocket full of notes, and if not in touch with values, you get the idea that he was affluent, when the whole lot wouldn't be worth more than seven or eight shillings. Walter Walker came across on the boat, and he looks well. All the men are put through a further course of three weeks here before going up to the line. Whilst at Havre we saw an airship in flight, which is used for observation purposes in the Channel, mostly for detecting the presence of submarines.

July 12th 1917

Here we are back in Codford. It took us in all ten days for the whole job. The journey from Boulogne to Havre took eighteen hours, and the country through which we passed was beautiful. On both sides, as far as the eye could see, the land was all cultivated and bearing splendid crops of wheat, oats, barley, potatoes. What appeared strange to Australians was the mixed crops which were growing side by side. In one paddock, for instance, wheat and oats would be separated by a crop of potatoes, and a magnificent lot of cabbages and cauliflowers would be vying in competition with a crop of barley. The land is far better worked than in England, every conceivable piece being utilised. In consequence, the food problem is of no concern whatever, everybody appearing to live in a country which was nothing more or less than a huge granary The reason is not far to seek, and it is just this: the. peasant women of France are known the whole world over for the manner in which they worked in the fields, and when war broke out the development and working of the land  was not retarded much in consequence. Not so with England. The women there, though rising nobly to the occasion, were out of their sphere when it came to farming, and though they have done well, the same results couldn't be expected .as those got from a nation of women who through their environment are practically saving France from the horrors of famine to-day. After being in France, I am convinced that there is not a trade or calling under the sun which isn't capable of being performed by what we were always pleased to term the ‘weaker sex.' 

July 14th 1917

 In this letter I’m going to confine myself to our return trip across the Channel, which nearly ended with us all being a thousand leagues under the sea. We boarded the boat (Mayne and I) at Havre, with eleven hundred souls on board, most of them being men on leave from Salonica and France.The place reserved for the sergeants was right down on the lower deck, and we had a very nice appetising dinner at a cost of 2s. 6p. It was very close, owing to all portholes being closed. This trip is four times the distance as that between Folkestone and Boulogne, and is always done at night, so as to evade as much as possible the danger of being torpedoed. We were all sound asleep, when at 12.45 a.m. we were awakened by a terrible crash, which shot us all over the place (just as well we were occupying the floor !) With cries of 'she's gone ' we grabbed our coats, lifebelts, were put on and though at first one or two were inclined to stampede, a few "steady there's, take your time" gained perfect control. Mayne caught hold of my belt and with the crowd we made our way up the stairs. This was a bit of a task, as it was pitch dark. We all at this time were absolutely certain that she was going to sink. When we got up on deck, we found we had rammed and cut in halves a mine sweeper, sinking her in three and a half minutes. The work of the navy is here exemplified, torpedo boat destroyers appearing from apparently nowhere. The whole sea was lit up by searchlights, which were playing on the water whilst the boats were picking up the survivors. In all twelve lives were lost. The bows of our boat were literally torn away, but fortunately the bulkheads held. After an examination, we got orders from the commander of the destroyer flotilla to make for Southampton at full speed. We arrived safely at this port and I can tell you I was not sorry to get off, as, after being on deck giving a hand with the boats, we had to go below again. This, after the cool air was too much for me, consequently my nice dinner and I parted company. Though I laugh now when I think of everyone groping for life belts, yet at the time, I can assure you, I didn't see anything  funny about it. This is another experience I have had and doubtless I shall undergo others before I return. We have received marching orders and expect any moment to return to France and join up with our battalion (reference).

Researched by Gaye Englund for the Museum of Perth