Mr. And Mrs. Jacob Britten

The celebration of their Golden Wedding was celebrated on April 30th And was reported in the Bega District News  of Friday May 23 1952 As follows:

Golden wedding at Tantawanglo.

Mr. And Mrs. Jacob Britten, of Kia-Ora,” Tantawanglo celebrated their Golden Wedding, on April 30, when their family gathered round to wish them further happiness together.  All the children were present: Mrs Douglas Bega, Mrs. Chaffey, Nemingha, Mr. Athol Britten, Tantawanglo, Mr Theo Britten, Tamworth and Mr. Earle Britten, Tanja

Mr. J.C. Furness was the chairman and relatives and friends from all parts of the district joined in the celebration of two fine people who had passed so many milestones together. A full range of toasts were honoured, and after the chairman and a number of speakers had spoken in appreciation of the excellent record of the two guests of honour Mr. Britten responded

Beautiful Cake.   A beautiful “Golden Wedding” cake was cut with the same excitement as the one the young bride cut half a century before. The cake was made by Mrs. Slater and iced by Mrs. Healey.  Mrs. P. Hefernan, who was bridesmaid at the wedding, was still waiting attendance on the bride.  Both Mrs Britten and her bridesmaid were presented with a posy made by  Miss Muriel Blacker, of Bega.  The cheerful couple were the recipients of many gifts, presented to Mr. And Mrs. Britten, on behalf of their friends, by the chairman.  On Sunday, May 4, all members of the Britten family, joined in worship at St. Johns, Tantawanglo.  After the service, supper was served

In the church grounds by members of the congregation.  A lecturn was presented to the Church to mark the occasion.  Mr. And Mrs. Britten have played a very important part in  the district’s development since they settled at Tantawanglo, as a young couple immediately following their marriage throughout the celebrations was that these hardy souls may long be spared,  50 years ago.  May they long be spared.   The General opinion expressed enjoy the fruits of their long labours and thus to continue to give a lead in local matters.

Submitted by Barbara Adams <dad95624-at-bigpond.net.au> 19.07.06

EXTRACT FROM FIVEDOCK “RECORDER’, 20-07- 1918

 DRIVER N.A. BRITTEN.  M.M.

 “The old Gun Wheeler’, a poem which we print below, was composed by Driver N.A. Britten, M.M of Annesly Street, Leichardt, whose marriage to a young English Lady at the General Hospital, Birmingham, we are informed recently took place.  It  was dedicated to his mount the favourite mare of the battery, after it was classed as unfit for action.   Driver Britten has seen three and a half years service and was in battles of Fleur-Breux (1916), Pozieres (1916), Ypres (1917), Flers (1916-1917), Lagnicourt, 1917 and severely wounded in Ypres, 1917, he was mentioned in dispatches and gained the Military Medal in 1917.

 “‘THE OLD GUN WHEELER”

 “Old Bonny Bess”, the Battery’s pride, is leaving us at last, the small ride-wheel of F sub, who’d guess for how long past; She’s done her work, and hadher day, and now she’s going “cast”.

She came from Queensland to the war, a small tough bay, well know for heart and pace, and looks half the A.F.A. her trainer “Driver Britten” still boasts of her to-day.

She knew her work when on parade, quite wise enough to know that all the world was there to see and hotly proud to show just how the field guns galloped when they get the word to go.

And when we went into the line, where death was in the air, by shell-torn slopes at midnight, lit by gunflash and by flare, while trembling leads and centres jibbed, Bess did a double share.

She pulled her gun where crowded tracks were marked by scattered dead, where great shell splinters strewed the mud beneath her labouring tread, and felt her rider “duck” to bursts of shrapnel overhead.

But now farewell, my Bonny Bess, with heart as true as steel, God curse the “vet” that “cast” you with a badly poisoned heel; Dream often you are young again to gallop on the “wheel”.

Submitted by Barbara Adams <dad95624-at-bigpond.net.au> 22.07.07

The following photos were supplied by Michael Povey <mpovey-at-tpg.com.au> 29.10.11

Audrey Eileen Williams nee Britten