1914-15 Star (C.3416 W. RITCHIE, A.B., R.N.R.); British War Medal (3416C. W. RITCHIE. SMN. R.N.R.); Victory Medal (3416C. W. RITCHIE. SMN. R.N.R.); Memorial Plaque (WILLIAM RITCHIE)
William Ritchie was born in Gourdon, Montrose, Scotland on 22 August 1880.
According to the 1901 Scotland census he was a 20 year old Fisherman living with his parents in William Street, Bervie, Kincardineshire and was the oldest of their children.
He joined the Royal Naval reserve on 1 April 1904 and was a crew member aboard H.M.S. "Kinfauns Castle" when he succumbed to the ravages of Smallpox, allegedly contracted whilst the vessel was in Bombay, in hospital in Zanzibar on the East Coast of Africa on 5 March 1915.
The Montrose Standard of 12 March 1915 carried this article:-
"Death of a Gourdon Reservist - Information came to hand on Wednesday of the death, after an illness, of William Ritchie, fisherman, William Street, Gourdon. At the beginning of the war "Willsie," as he was familiarly known, was called up as a naval reservist. He was on board a vessel serving in foreign waters along with a number of other Gourdon lads. It was only on Tuesday that a small box arrived from him from India with some small presents for his sisters. He was of a quiet disposition, and was highly respected. He was only 32 years of age, and a fine type of sailor."
Medals are in good condition unless indicated otherwise. Sold with some research
