My Mother got Two Telegrams, One was Bad Enough.

Introduction

I have assisted one of my aunts, Mrs Mary Ritson (née Casson) from Whitehaven, Cumbria to submit this article about World War Two. Mary married my father’s eldest brother Tom Ritson in 1941. She had five brothers who served in the Armed Forces during World War Two. Two brothers, Robert and Joseph Casson were killed within days of each other during the Battle of Normandy. Robert and Joseph are buried in adjacent graves in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Ryes / Bazenville, Calvados, a short distance to the east of Bayeux.

Mary had another brother, John Casson, who took part in the Normandy landings in June 1944, as was one of her brothers-in-law Ronald Ritson. Mary has never been able to visit Normandy but every year on 6 June remembers the sacrifice of her two brothers, Robert and Joseph with a commemoration in the local newspaper, ‘The Whitehaven News’.

I am grateful to Mary and other members of her immediate family for their assistance in agreeing to submit this memory of World War Two. It is Mary’s own account as she told me on Sunday 27 February 2005. The terms of the BBC “People’s War” website have been read and understood. This submission is dedicated to the memory of Robert and Joseph Casson, two well-loved sons, brothers and uncles so that they will not be forgotten.

The Casson brothers from Whitehaven

“My parents were David and Mary Ellen Casson who lived in Whitehaven. They had eleven children, although one died young. That left ten of us children including the six boys. We used to live on Newhouses, Whitehaven. Then we moved to live at Fleswick Avenue, Woodhouse near where buses used to stop. We knew just about everybody on Woodhouse. They were all really good neighbours and they all helped each other.

Five of my brothers went into the Forces in the war. Stanley, who was the youngest, was too young for the war, so he didn’t go. My other brothers were John, Robert, George, David and Joseph and they all went to the war. I’ve got lots of photographs of them all in the family group and some of them in their uniforms. My sisters and their children had a lot more photographs.

Before the war Robert worked in the Isle of Man. It isn’t that far away from Whitehaven. I think somebody told him about work over there, I forget who it was for the moment. So, he went across on one of the boats from the harbour. David went over there to the Isle of Man a little bit after that as well. I don’t know what work they were doing. I was working away from home then as well, down in London.

George was in the army in India during the war and I think David went out there as well. They didn’t bring them back to fight over here. I think they were there all the time but I don’t know what they did.

Normandy 1944

Three of my brothers were out in Normandy. Ronald, Tom’s brother, was over there as well but I don’t think they met up at all. Robert died on 6 June and Joseph not long after. It wasn’t until years after, when you gave me a map and some photos, that I learnt Robert had landed on Sword Beach, the same as Ronald. My daughters, Mary Teresa and Josephine have shown me photographs and other information as well.

Robert was in the Royal Marine Commandos and Joseph was in the Durham Light Infantry. I have it written down. I’ve got a photograph of where they are buried that Mary Teresa gave me. John used to drive a truck when he was in Normandy and he told me that he used to drive past Robert’s grave and he didn’t know about it. Ronald said the same thing. He must have driven past where they are buried and didn’t know.

Receiving the Telegrams

My parents received two telegrams almost at the same time I think it was. I was married by then and living at Scilly Banks and I had my eldest three daughters to look after by then. So I don’t know what it was like when my Mam got the telegrams. I went to see her as soon as I knew but Mam and Dad didn’t want a lot of talk about them dying. It was really bad. Everyone was upset. My other brothers came back but we’ve always remembered Robert and Joseph. Even now I still remember them.

Getting two telegrams was a big shock to my Mam and Dad, to all of us really. One was bad enough, but two! My Mam never got over it. She never liked talking about it. I don’t know what she thought about the Germans, it was all really upsetting for her. Even years later she would get really upset by it all.

Remembering Robert and Joseph

After the war, my mother gave some money to the St Mary’s Catholic Church at Kells for the lamps that hang down. This was in memory of Robert and Joseph. It was something she wanted to do to remember them by. You’ll have seen them hanging down from the ceiling. They hold the candles in the lamps on the altar.

Mam and Dad didn’t go to Normandy to see Robert and Joseph’s graves. It was too far and she wasn’t in that good health and they had no money for trips like that. I’ve never been either, although I was going to go in 1989 I think it was but I wasn’t too well and wasn’t up to it.

Other friends and relatives have been over there. You’ve given me quite a bit about Robert and Joseph from when you were over there. My sister Evelyn Mills went with the local Normandy Veterans trip run by Joe Bainbridge on that 1989 trip. I think it was around then anyway. Another chap, Pat Kelly, lives down the road and he told Tom and me about it. I think they laid a wreath on their graves. And of course, Mary Teresa and her husband went to France and she saw their graves as well.

Every year in June we put something in the newspaper, it shows that we remember them. It’s a long time ago but Robert and Joseph are still two of my dear brothers. You never forget them and you don’t really get over it. It was a lot worse for my Mam of course. Then as you know, you gave me a photo of the memorial stone at the back of St Begh’s Church on Coach Road. It has their names on."

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Citations

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission looks after the graves of Robert and Joseph Casson, along with all the other Commonwealth troops who died during the two World Wars. They are buried at Ryes War Cemetery, Bazenville, approximately 8 kilometres (5 miles) east of Bayeux.

There are 652 Commonwealth burials at Ryes War Cemetery, 1 Polish and 326 German Graves. Robert and Joseph lie in adjacent plots although they died three weeks apart. The CWGC citation, commemorating them in perpetuity, that can be found in the register at the cemetery entrance is given below.

Joseph Casson:

'In Memory of
Private JOSEPH CASSON

14674155, 9th Bn., Durham Light Infantry
who died age 18
on 27 June 1944
Son of David and Mary Ellen Casson, of Whitehaven, Cumberland.
Remembered with honour
RYES WAR CEMETERY, BAZENVILLE'

Robert Casson:

'In Memory of
Marine ROBERT CASSON

EX/3236, No. 45 Commando., Royal Marines
who died age 25
on 06 June 1944
Son of David and Mary Ellen Casson, of Whitehaven, Cumberland.
Remembered with honour
RYES WAR CEMETERY, BAZENVILLE'

Conclusion

Robert and Joseph Casson were two young men who died during World War Two. They were called up to the Armed Forces, left home, went overseas and never came back. After the battles were over, Robert and Joseph were laid to rest side by side in a French cemetery.

Mary, along with other relatives and friends have never forgotten Robert and Joseph. They were but two victims of a World War in which millions died, each one of them well-loved by others. I wish to thank Mary for sharing the memory of her two brothers who paid the ultimate sacrifice and now lie next to each other in France. They should always be remembered.

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