Mexborough & Swinton Times, November 24 1917
Brave Wath Sergeant.
Killed Nine Germans.
Recommended for the V.C.
Sgt. Wm. F. Pyott,
171, Doncaster road, Wath-apon-Dearne, is reported killed in action. His widow has received the following letter from her brother, bombardier. C. H. Williams, who is serving in France:
“I scarcely know how to break the sad news of your husband’s sad, but. gallant fate. I have made inquiries of ‘his officers, and find that poor old Bill was engaged with nine Germans, every one of whom he killed, when he was struck down by a ‘bullet from a sniper. His death was practically instantaneous, so be would be spared any suffering.
The Brigadier-General addressed the battalion when they came out of the trenches, and said he deeply regretted the loss of Sgt. Pyott, the most daring and best sergeant tor patrol work he had come across since he joined the Army.
It will be some slight consolation to you to know that he has been recommended for the highest award for valour, namely, the V.C., by the same officer that recommended him on the last occasion.
I might add that all the boys declare that he is entitled to the sward, if bravery and endurance count for anything. His body has not yet been recovered, through incessant firing where he was killed, but I am assured Wit when he is found he will get a decent burial, one worthy of such a man.
All his comrades ask me to convey to you their deer sympathy in your sad loss, for, as they say, he can never be replaced, either at home or on the battlefield. I will attend to his personal belongings, and will let you know anything further as early as possible.”
Sgt. Pyott enlisted in November, 1914, and was wounded and gassed in the battle of Loos in September, 1915. During the Somme offensive of the following year he was awarded the Military Medal for successful patrol work on July 5-6. Later in that offensive he was engaged in much heavy fighting in’ the rear of the Tanks on the river Ancre. He was recently drafted to the Ypres, front, where he has been killed.
He was a married man, aged 26, with two children, and before enlistment worked as a miner at Wath Main.