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Herbett Rylett (Rilett)

Herbert Rilett (or Rylett) was born in Barkston c1876.  His parents were John George Rilett, a garden labourer originally from Carlton Scroop and Elizabeth (nee Kennewell) of Barkston. Their children were: William; John George; Henry; Enoch; Elizabeth; Caleb; Joseph; Herbert and Earnest

William was born in Honington but the other later children were born Barkston. By 1881 the family were living at No1 Nixon’s Row, Barkston; in 1891 they were in West St.

In 1901 Herbert was boarding at Gippele Farm, Syston, where (age 15) he was a farm waggoner.   In 1911 he was a railway labourer, staying with his brother John George’s family at 8 St Austins Drive, Gedling Road, Carlton, Nottingham.

Although saying he was a resident of Syston, Herbert enlisted in the Army at Derby and served variously with the North Staffordshire Regiment, the Royal Engineers and the 8th and 12th battalions, South Staffordshire Regiment.  He died of wounds on 25 Feb 1918 (age 32) while serving as a private with 7th battalion, South Staffordshires.   He was buried at Barlin Communal Cemetery, south of Bethune in France.

His brother Caleb Rilett became a railway platelayer with the GNR before joining up in Hucknall, Notts in June 1916.  He too served with the North Staffordshire and South Staffordshire Regiments for a while, but seems to have mostly been with the Royal Engineers, in 295 Railway Company.  He served in France from Feb 1917 to Jan 1919 then, after injuring his leg in a fall, he spent some time in Huddersfield War Hospital before being demobbed.