Category: Military
Rank: Ordinary Seaman J/15155
Regiment or Ship: Various vessels and shore stations
Service Number(s): J/15155
Occupation: Rating, Royal Navy
Date of Birth: 13.10.1895
Place of Birth: Hastings, Sussex
Date of Death: 1976
Place of Death: Portsmouth, Hampshire
Address: On board Royal Navy vessel Home waters,
Photos and newspaper articles
Click on any image to see a larger version
Family Information
Father: Henry b.1865
Mother: Rose Sargent b.1868
Siblings: Charles Henry b.1893 W0073 BRITT Charles (Driver)
Lucy b.1900
Wife (1) : Marion Dickson-Dow
They had 2 Children
Wife (2) : Gladys Harris
Brother in law: Edwin Charles Waite W0122 WAITE Edwin Charles (Private)
Brother in law: Eldred Waite W0123 WAITE Eldred (Private)
Brother in law of Sister in law of brother: Frank Victor Nichols W0096 NICHOLS Frank (Private)
Husband of Sister in law: John Albert Nichols W0097 NICHOLS John (Driver)
Husband of Sister in law: George Edward Veness W0119 VENESS George (Driver)
First World War Experience
Nelson Britt and his mother and siblings went to live with maternal grandparents following the death of his father in 1906.
By 1911 he was on board the Training Ship Exmouth moored at in the Thames Estuary at Grays, Essex. Boys on such vessels were usually sent by local Poor Law Guardians. A circumstance that may have applied to the Britt family after the father had died. From here he entered the Royal Navy as a Boy on Board HMS Impregnable a training ship at Devonport where he became a Boy Telegraphist posted in 1913 to HMS Invincible.
At the outbreak of war, Nelson was serving on HMS Monarch, a highlight of his posting being an unsuccessful attack by the German submarine U-15. He may have served on board HMS Munster, a destroyer, during the Battle of Jutland
Following this he had advanced to be a Petty Officer [Telegraphist] and at war’s end he was on board HMS Birmingham a light cruiser. Nelson remained in the Royal Navy after the war serving through to 1928, his character usually very good and his ability superior. After the war he was employed by the Admiralty as a Clerical Officer.
He was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
With acknowledgements to Diana Nichols.