Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Document: | New Zealand WW1 Masonic List | N.Z. | |
Awards & Titles: | Military Medal Distinguished Conduct Medal | ||
Early Life :
Born in Scotland, 1884. His next of kin whilst on military service is listed as his sister, Mrs Jean Bell, 137 Rintoul Street, Wellington, but at his death his next-of-kin is listed, on the Certification of Death (1971), to be Mrs Ritchie of 27 Disraeli Street, Hawers relating to Edith Agnes Ritchie who survived her husband for two more more years.Service Life:
Campaigns:
| Unit / Ship / Est.: Wellington Regiment N.Z.E.F. |
Mike: BEAN Wellington Battalion, 253, 641n, in Second Battle of Krithia, 15-9, 36-7, casualties, 40; at Quinn?s, 247, 252; in attack on Chunuk Bair: its role, 577-8, 666, attacks, 636-7, 666-8, defends captured position, 671-8, stren th after fight, 679, mounted d e s relieve,679. |
| Action : War Survivor |
Although many perished in times of national conflict and in the service of their country, many more survived including those interned as Prisoners of War. Stories of those who did survive are included as part of this site, especially those with high gallantry awards, those included against an external rolls of honour and those who had a distinguished career in wartime and military leaderhip.
Detail :
31353, Corporal RITCHIE, 2nd Battalion Wellington Regiment, 1st New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Enlisted 24th July, 1916 for the duration of the war. He embared for Europe from Wellington on the 15th November, 1916, landing at Devonport in January following. He embarked for France 1st March and camped at Etaples before joining the battalion in the field in June. He was promoted to Lance-Corporal 3rd September, 1917 and within a few weeks, on the 15th October he was awarded the Military Medal "for acts of gallantry in the field". A few days later he was promoted to Corporal. He was discharged from service 7th March, 1919: No longer physically fit for War Service on account of Wounds received in action.
He is commemorated for his service at the Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Mount Egmont No. 670 E.C. | New Zealand (North Island) |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
13th October 1915 | 10th November 1915 | 9th February 1916 |
Listed as a 31 year old Commercial Traveller, resident at New Plymouth when initiated into Mount Egmont Lodge No. 670 in 1915. War service is recorded for 1917. There are other annotations recorded against his entry, which appears that he is given Dispensation on 6s 6d, and also an overpayment of 7s. 6d, is distributed to SHORT (2s. 6d.) in 1914 and FIELDERS (5s.) in 1918 (i.e. he is covering dues for others.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley