Pte 31127 Albert Edward Ritson

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Albert Edward Ritson was born in Liverpool on the 25th September 1894, the son of George Ritson and his wife Sarah (nee Noble), who married on the 9th July 1878 at St Peter, Liverpool. George was a 23 year old hairdresser of Burlington St, father George, whilst Sarah was aged 22 also of Burlington St, father James. His mother had a son, Salim Duido Ramdas (later known as David), born in 1876, father Abed Ramdas, shopman (Salem Ramdas on David’s marriage). No Ramdas-Noble marriage has been found, and when she married George Ritson, she was Sarah Noble. They had ten children, all born in Liverpool.  Birth records for nine have been found (it is possible that Duido Ramdas was included as one of their children as he lived with the family when he was young). Albert was the youngest son. His older siblings were George James, Charles, William, Sarah, John Jackson, Frederick, and Mary.  He had a younger sister Joyce.  

His father George is found on earlier censuses as a barber and hairdresser, born in Edge Hill in about 1856.  At the time of the 1891 census the family lived at 4 Easby Road, Kirkdale, with six children, his father, 35, employed as a hairdresser. 

His father died in 1899 at the age of 42, when Albert was four years old.

In 1901 his widowed mother, 44, is still at 4 Easby Road, and has eight children at home.  George 21, is a journeyman baker, William 17, a blacksmith’s striker, Sarah, 15, has no occupation, and John, even though only 12 years old, is working as a hairdresser’s assistant.  Frederick is 11, Mary 8 Albert 6, and Joyce 4. Charles has gone to sea, as an assistant cook with the Cunard Line (promoted to ship’s cook in 1904 and later worked for Canadian Pacific).  

The 1911 Census shows the family are still living at 4 Easby Road, Kirkdale, Liverpool. His mother, Sarah, is a widow aged 54, born in Liverpool in 1857 has no occupation listed.  She has six children in the household; Sarah  is aged 25, born 1886 occupation setter-press feeder, John Jackson aged 22, born 1889 is a hairdresser, Frederick aged 21, born 1890 and Albert Edward aged 16 are both sawyer’s labourers in a sawmill, Mary aged 18, born 1893 is employed as an inner tube maker in a rubber works and Joyce aged 14, born 1897 is at school.

Albert married Annie Elizabeth Aldham on Christmas Day 1914 in St. Matthew’s Church, Liverpool. He gave his age as 20, his occupation as porter, and his address as 57 Adelaide Street.  His father George is deceased.

Their daughter Evelyn Jessie was born on 16^th December 1915.  At his daughter’s baptism on 09th January 1916 Albert gave his name as Bert and his occupation as soldier, 21st King’s Liverpool.

Albert enlisted in Liverpool in about August 1915 and served with the 17^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 31127. He arrived in France in 1916. 

He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 21, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

17th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July. 

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

His death was officially determined, in February 1917, to have occurred on or since 30th July 1916.

Albert's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. 

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £3 went to his widow Annie.

Liverpool Evening Express 5th May 1917 

RITSON - Previously reported missing on July 30th, 1916, now reported killed in action on that date, in his 22nd year, Private A. E. RITSON, K.L.R., the dearly beloved youngest son of Sarah and the late George Ritson. Deeply mourned by his sorrowing mother, sisters, and brothers, 4 Easeby Road, Kirkdale.  

For many years the family chain was closely linked together,  

But O that chain is broken now, one link is gone for ever. 

Liverpool Evening Express 30th July 1917 

RITSON - In loving memory of my dear son, Private A. E. RITSON, K.L.R. (Pals). reported killed in action July 13(sic), 1916, in his 22nd year. For ever remembered by his mother, sisters, and brothers, 4 Easeby Road, Kirkedale, and Jack in France.  

There is a link death cannot sever,  

Fond remembrance lives for ever.  

Mother.  

Liverpool Evening Express Tuesday 25th September 1917 

RITSON - In loving 23rd birthday remembrance of my dear husband, Private A. E. RITSON, K.L.R., reported killed in action July 13(sic), 1916. (Always remembered by his sorrowing wife and babe.)  

I’ll weep not for him, the God of love  

Hath claimed him for His own; 

I’ll fix my thoughts and hopes above,  

And meet him at His throne.  

(Never forgotten by all at 57 Adelaide Street; also his mother and sisters, 4 Easby Road, and brothers in France.) 

His brother William also joined the Merchant Marine and served throughout the war.

John Jackson served in the S. Lancs Regiment and later in the R.A.S.C.

Frederick enlisted in 1917 and arrived in France on 24th August 1917 with the Border Regiment. He ended his service with the Army of Occupation in Germany and was discharged in November 1919.

In 1918, his brother Charles was the cook on the H.M.S. Otranto, a passenger liner requisitioned by the Admiralty as an armed cruiser and later as a troopship.  She was transporting over 1,000 American servicemen from New York in October 1918 when she was involved in a collision during a Force 11 storm off the coast of Scotland, resulting in a large hole below the waterline.  The engine rooms flooded, the ship lost power and quickly began listing.  An R.N. escort destroyer Mounsey was told by the Captain to keep her distance, as any approach to the stricken ship would be suicidal but the commander nevertheless came alongside.  The much smaller Mounsey was severely damaged during the rescue operation but saved nearly 600 men (including hundreds of American troops), despite the mountainous seas.  For his “magnificent courage and seamanship” 29-year old Lt. Francis W. Craven, R.N., was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the U.S. President (placing him among such esteemed company as Winston Churchill, Douglas Haig, John Monash, Ferdinand Foch, King Albert I of the Belgians, General Allenby, and Julian Byng.)

The heavy seas broke the Otranto in half and she crashed into the Isle of Islay’s rocks. About 450 lives were lost, over 350 U.S. servicemen and many of the ship’s crew, including Charles Ritson. His date of death is recorded on CWGC as 06th October 1918. Charles is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 31. 

The sinking of the Otranto was the single greatest loss of life in troop transport during the war.

His widow Annie, living at 57 Adelaide Street, Everton, received a pension of 18/9d a week for herself and her child.

Annie remarried to 22 year old Harold Mussell on the 3rd August 1919 at St Mary, Kirkdale, and had son Harold (1920 d.1921) and daughters Edna Annie(1923), Jeannie(1930). Harold had served as Pte 267284 K.L.R. 

His mother appears to have died 1935 at the age of 78.

In 1939 Annie 44, is living with her family at 9 Sharp Street, Liverpool. Married daughter Jessie E. Hibbert is living at 35 Othello Street, Liverpool. Annie later lived in Othello Street near her daughter.

Annie died suddenly on holiday in Rhyl in 1951 aged 55. Jessie died in 1970, at the age of 53.

Albert and Charles are both commemorated in -

Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 43

St. Mary with St. Athanasius Parishioners  

Albert is commemorated on the following memorials -

Christ Church C. of E. Church, Everton

Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.

In 1939 Annie, date of birth 08th December 1896, is living with Harold, Edna and Jeannie at 9 Sharp Street, Liverpool.  

We currently have no further information on Albert Edward Ritson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.