William was born on 15th
June 1887 in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK. His parents were George and Margaret (nee
Craig) Fox Ritchie. William’s father was
a gamekeeper and forester.
Educated at Pinwherry and
Colmonell public schools, William joined Princess Louise’s Argyll and
Sutherland Highlanders, a Regiment of the British Army, on 3rd April
1909. He served in Malta for three years
before being posted to India. His
Regiment was among the first to be sent to Flanders in 1914, which means he was
an Old Contemptible.
Invalided home with
Frost-bite, William trained as a Musketry Instructor but then applied for
active service. He was posted to join 12
Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in Salonika. William was a Sergeant when he was killed at
the age of 31 at Grande Couronne, Salonika.
He was buried in Colonial Hill Cemetery, which is now known as Doiran
Military Cemetery, in Greece. He was an
extremely brave man and was recommended by his Commanding Officer to receive
the Croix de Guerre for bravery.
A poem written by William
Fox Ritchie in March 1915. Reproduced
here by kind permission of Ritchie
“A Candid
Opinion”
To get caught by a sniper’s chance bullet
Or crippled with frost bitten feet.
There are
some say they’re anxious to get back
There are
others who say they are not. It is not that they care for the danger
Or are frightened that they will get shot.
It’s the
awful conditions you live in,
Midst the
rain and the mud and the dirt. Where you’d give a month’s pay for a square meal,
And twice that amount for a shirt.
No, I’m not at all anxious
to go back,
But I’ll hve to go that’s
understood So I’m willing and ready to go there
And if needs be to stop there for good.
Willie F. Ritchie, 91st Highlanders, 23/04/1915
With many thanks to Richard
for sending me the poem via Twitter. Additional information found via Find my Past.
