ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti fˈoːɹ bɹˈɪteɪn ɹᵻtˈaɪɚd fɹʌmðɪ ˈɑːɹmi ˈæftɚ θˈɜːɾi sˈɛvən jˈɪɹz sˈɜːvɪs twˈɛnti jˈɪɹz æz ɐn ˌɑːɹɹˌɛsˈɛm; hiː wʌz wˈɛl əbˌʌv ðə nˈoːɹməl ɹᵻtˈaɪɚmənt ˈeɪdʒ fɔːɹ sˈɜːvɪs pˌɜːsənˈɛl.
In 1954 Brittain retired from the army after 37 years' service (20 years as an RSM); he was well above the normal retirement age for service personnel.