A Second World War Fleet Air Arm pilot’s group of seven awarded to Lieutenant-Commander (A.) E. M. Britton, Royal Navy, a Squadron C.O. and Wing Leader who was twice mentioned in despatches

Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1936-1939 (Sub. Lieut. E. M. Britton, R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted as worn, good very fine and better (7)
£400-500

Edwin Michael Britton was born in 1920, the son of Brigadier E. J. J. Britton, C.B.E., D.S.O., and was appointed a Midshipman in the Royal Navy in May 1938. Subsequently qualifying as a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm, he was advanced to Lieutenant in June 1941.

In his subsequent wartime career, Britton held several Squadron commands, his first such appointment occurring in August 1942, when he became C.O. of No. 788 (F.A.A.) Squadron in East Africa. Removing to the command of No. 828 Squadron in March 1943, he led his unit’s Barracudas on anti-shipping operations out of Ta Kali, Malta, gallant work that won him his first “mention”, not least for successful strikes in the Sicilian Channel (London Gazette 5 October 1943). The original recommendation, written by Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park in July 1943, states:

‘Lieutenant Britton arrived in Malta on 11 April 1943, and commanded No. 828 Squadron for a period of four weeks. Subsequently he flew as a senior pilot showing great keenness for operational flying. During his tour of duty in Malta he has taken part in 11 sorties, several of which he has led, and has now completed 60 operational hours. He secured a direct hit with a bomb on an Italian destroyer, scored near misses on E-Boats, and bombed a number of land objectives.’

In September 1943, Britton assumed command of No. 831 Squadron, and remained similarly employed until January 1944, when, as an Acting Lieutenant-Commander, he became successively Wing Leader of 2, 12, and 52 Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance (T.B.R.) Wings. And it was in this latter capacity that he won his second “mention” for gallantly leading a successful Barracuda strike from the carrier Indomitable against enemy shipping and installations in Emmahaven harbour, Sumatra, in August 1944 (London Gazette 2 January 1945). The original recommendation states:

‘He was Wing Leader of the strike on Emmahaven harbour, Sumatra. This strike achieved an estimated six hits on two motor vessels and considerable damage to harbour installations. He has always shown zeal and fighting spirit and led this strike in a most competent manner. He himself scored one hit and one near miss on a motor vessel.’

Britton ended the War as C.O. of No. 778 Squadron, but died in Malta in June 1946, while serving as C.O. of No. 728 Squadron in Falcon, the Royal Naval Air Station at Hal Far. Just 26 years of age, he left a widow, Pamela, of Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, and was buried in the Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta. With copied research.