Albert Ryott’s letter
Published in the Majorca Daily Bulletin
Sunday 9th November 2014
Kath Horsfall has lived in Majorca for 50 years after relocating to the island with her parents. She stayed after they returned to England because she had found a career, love, marriage and her own family. She has become one of the significant people in tourism on this island and hers was the voice you would have heard, in the past, making English announcements on the tannoy in Palma Airport . She was the voice of tourism then and now is the first face you see when you call in at Melia Hotel Head Office. At this time of year however her thoughts return to her families roots back in Newcastle . Remembrance Sunday is a time she and her family have memories their own war hero.
Albert Ryatt was Kath’s Great Uncle – the brother of her Grandmother. He was born in Morpeth near Newcastle and when Britain entered the First World War in August 1914 he was one of the first to sign up. Albert was a ‘Pals Army’ volunteer which means that he and his friends joined together and stayed together. The promotion of village, town or workplace mass recruitment for the army was a feature of the time. Albert entered the war at its early stages and was sent to Flanders and the trenches to a life that we would prefer not to think about.
Albert came from a close and loving family and his letter is just beautiful it tells stories and tries to protect his Dad from joining up. His father was age 41 and on the borderline of the age group that was required to join the war effort. Albert begged his Dad not to join up but to stay and look after his Mum and younger sister Margaret. He compliments his Mum and his Sister on their baking and the cakes they sent him and he begs for lice powder to be sent to control the itches. What a testament to the realities of war as it was then.
Albert died four months after this letter was written on 22nd October 1915. The Army information says that he died of his wounds and was buried in Bailleul Military Cemetery alongside 4000 others. He lies with many British and Commonwealth comrades together with French, Russian, Chinese and German soldiers.
I have spent time with Albert through his letter and research on the 1911 census. I liked that boy – that’s what he was – an articulate thinking boy who loved his family, his friends and his roots. This is the story of the boy who lived in Heaton in Newcastle and was an upholsterer before he became a young soldier. He saw too much and experienced war and paid the price like many thousands of others. His story is a special one for Remembrance Day and I am honoured that Kath has allowed me to share it. No wonder she and her family are so proud of their lad.
Rest in Peace Albert Ryott
No 8 Platoon B Company
6th Batts North Fusiliers
British Exped. Force
12th June 1915
Dear Mother and Sister
I suppose by now you will think I have forgotten you but the day after I sent you that last letter we moved back into the trenches again and were there for eight days. We had a pretty hot time on the road with their artillery fire but very few casualties. In the trenches our luck was not so good, we had two or three knocked out every day. Billy Atkinson and George Henderson were amongst the unlucky ones; their wounds were about the worst of all. Both were lying together in the trench when a shrapnel pitched right in and burst not more than a foot above them. How they were not blown to pieces I can’t tell. Their valises were absolutely blown to smithereens and parts of them were picked up some two hundred yards away. As it was they were very badly hit. At first we thought that Billy had lost his eye sight but had word from him saying he is gradually getting it back. His wounds were in the head and hands. Another piece went right through his foot and another in the stomach besides a lot of little pieces all over the body. No body has had any word about him so I can’t tell you how he is fairing for the present.
It was rather funny I received your second parcel after coming out of the trenches the same as I did your first. Billy did not receive his as he was knocked out then but I stuck to it and nicer cakes I never tasted. I gave two or three chaps a bit and they wanted to know who baked such lovely cakes. Tell Pa Jack Henderson has joined us again and he was just in time to help me to drinks Pa’s very good health with that milk dear old Pa sent. You should have seen Jack smack his lips after drinking it and remarked how he wished he was safely back in England with Pa going the rounds in the Grainger and White Horse. But wait until we come home at Christmas on furlough you and Pa and all of us shall have a real good time.
We are now resting but go into the trenches on the 18th this time on the Hill le O so be on the look out for the six Northumberland’s shortly. Since writing the above I have received your papers and letters from all three of you and thank you all very very much for your nice birthday greetings. To Pa give my very best wishes and the best of luck may he never come out here. I was going to send Pa a card so that he could get it on his birthday but we moved that very day and no more letters were taken for two or three days. We are now in the trenches in a wood and things are very quiet. We do get a laugh at the Germans sometimes some of them are real sports. The other day one of our chaps spotted a German digging his trench deeper and had a pop a him. He missed but instead of the German hiding himself he waved his shovel from side to side to signal a miss. He then stuck up a piece of white cardboard to see if our chap could hit it.
For goodness sake tell Pa from me to stop where he is or he will regret the day he ever volunteered. It is absolute murder. If we are lucky enough to get off without getting hit our hearts get broken with the terrible long marches. It is nothing uncommon to be on the march for eight hours with only a couple of rests. Besides he promised me faithfully he would stop at home and look after you both or I wouldn’t have volunteered. Just tell him that if he is determined to come out he is breaking a very solemn promise. If he has volunteered don’t stop him or people will only think he is showing the ‘white feather’ and I know he wouldn’t like that as he would be the last in the world to do such a thing.
There is one thing I should like very much and that is some lice killing stuff. My shirt goes for a stroll every morning and I have no control over it. If you would send me a few packets every week I should be very grateful.
Hope you are all keeping in the pink as it leaves me and have an enjoyable race week. I am spending mine in a novel fashion this year.
Ever your loving son and Brother
Albert
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P.S. I will try and get Peggy’s brooch sent in a day or two but I am not sure if I will
be allowed to send it. There is no fear of that person you call Polly getting it. Xxxxxx
