John Ritson

Little is as yet known about John Ritson other than that he served with the 18th (Durham Pals) Battalion DLI during the First World War and was demobilized in March 1919. 18 DLI was raised in County Durham at the start of the war and fought at Serre on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916, when "D" Company was all but destroyed.

Private Ritson was also given a bronze medal 'for services rendered' in 1918 by the 4th Battalion DLI. This was a home defence unit that was based during the war at Seaham Harbour on the coast of County Durham. 4 DLI also retrained soldiers following sickness or wounds before they returned to France and it is likely that John Ritson was wounded and was unable to go back overseas but was fit enough to serve with 4 DLI as part of the permanent staff.