THE ROLL OF HONOR.
LIEUTENANT J. N. RITCHIE.
John Neville Ritchie, 36 years of age, third son of the late Mr J. M. Ritchie, of Dunedin, received his childhood training under Miss McKenzie at a kindergarten, and in course of time went through the Otago Boys' High School. Then he studied at Cambridge University. Returning to Dunedin, he was appointed secretary to the National Mortgage and Agency Company. He took an interest in church work, and became a lay-reader at All Saints', also treasurer of St. Mary's Orphanage. It will be remembered that he took an active part in working up the High School jubilee meetings. He underwent a surgical operation to fit him as a soldier, then went to England and enlisted and qualified as an officer, obtaining a commission in the Seaforth Highlanders, with whom he went to Mesopotamia. He was married in England, three months before going East, to a sister of the wife of one of his brothers, the Rev. Charles Ritchie, who is a chaplain in the Navy. -Evening Star, 9/8/1916.
News has been received of the death of Second-Lieutenant John Nevill Ritchie, of the Seaforth Highlanders, third son of the late Mr J. M. Ritchie, of Balvraid, Dunedin, New Zealand, and of Mrs Ritchie. Early in the year he had been reported as missing, but now it appears to be established that his death occurred on April 23, in Mesopotamia. Having completed his education at Cambridge University, Mr Ritchie returned to New Zealand; but he came back in July, 1915, received his commission practically at once, and went abroad in February. In November he was married to Miss Eirene Mary Stewart, second daughter of Mr O. J. Stewart (the Public Trustee) and Lady Mary Stewart. Second Lieutenant J. N. Ritchie is believed to have been leading his men into action when he was killed. Mr Stewart has lost two sons-in-law in the war; also two sons, who were killed in the spring of 1915, within six weeks of each other. -Poverty Bay Herald, 31/10/1916.
The Mesopotamian Campaign, beginning in 1915, was regarded as an easy march up the river Tigris against Ottoman Empire troops who were not expected to offer much in the way of resistance. The troops, however, like those met by Empire soldiers at Gallipoli, were led and/or advised by a German army officer, Graf von der Goltz - an older officer but certainly competent. They were not a pushover.
In fact, the greatest defeat of the British Army in the Great War occured at a place named Kut-Al-Amara, on the banks of the Tigris. There, 8,000 British Army troops were besieged by an Ottoman army of 11,000. A relieving force of 19,000, which included John Ritchie's Battalion of the Seaforths, marched up the river to raise the siege.
On April 21, 1916, the Seaforths were part of the second encounter with Ottoman forces on their way to relieve the garrison at Kut. At 8am they attacked the enemy, advancing over 450 yeards of flat terrain which was covered in 3 inches (75mm) of mud and covered by machine guns. The attack failed, and the Seaforths and others returned to their trenches, to the rain and the mud, without a rum ration or even tea to comfort them. And they returned without Lieutenant John Nevill Ritchie.
Not long after the failure of the relief expedition the Kut garrison surrendered. Their commander, General Townshend, was treated well by his captors. To the great detriment of his reputation, his men were not - 70% dying after their surrender while Townshend lived comfortably for the rest of the war.
ST. MARYS ORPHANAGE
DEDICATION CEREMONY AND ANNUAL MEETING.
Recently Mrs, J. M. Ritchie generously freed the above orphanage from debt in memory of her son, Lieutenant John Nevill Ritchie, who was for 11 years honorary treasurer of St. Mary’s Orphanage, and who was not long since killed in the service of his King and country. And as a result of this action came the dedication of the orphanage chapel and house. The dedication service took place yesterday afternoon before a good attendance of orphanage workers and friends. It was conducted by the Primate, and the ceremony was an impressive one. Special hymns were sung and prayers said, and there was a procession of all those taking part m the service into the parts which were dedicated. There was a spirit of reverence and gratitude pervading the whole ceremony.
After the service the annual meeting was held, the Primate presiding. His Lordship referred to tho action of Mrs Ritchie, and remarked how indebted the institution was to her. He also spoke of the religions aspect of the Home, and pointed out how important a factor this was.
The annual report was then presented by the treasurer (Mr J. Skottowe Webb). It stated, inter alia:— The year which closed for us on March 31, 1917, brought to us an abiding sorrow and loss in the death of our honorary treasurer, Lieutenant Ritchie. That New Zealand has prospered abundantly in spite of or because of the war there is plenty of evidence, as seen in the generous support given to St. Mary’s Orphanage. We are indeed grateful to the many friends in the country who have supplied the Home with gifts of fruit, jam, and vegetables, and to the subscribers in town, who have kept up their subscriptions and in some cases have increased them. -Evening Star, 1/6/1917.
ALL SAINTS' CHURCH
MEMORIAL WINDOW UNVEILED
Yesterday, at the morning service in All Saints' Church, a memorial window, inscribed to Lieutenant J. H. Allen, Worcester Regiment, son of Sir James Allen, was dedicated by the dean. This window, of English make — Gascoigne and Co., Nottingham — was recently described by our London correspondent. Speaking from the lectern, the dean said: "At this point in our devotions we proceed to dedicate a window erected in memory of a soldier killed in action, John Hugh Allen, who was born in this parish, and whom as an infant I baptised in this church, member of a family associated with the parish from its beginning. His grandfather gave the piece of ground on which this church stands, his father the piece for the schoolroom. After graduating at Cambridge, he returned to New Zealand, and when again amongst us assisted in the work of the parish. On Sunday, in turn with a fellow-parishioner of his own age and of like history, John Nevill Ritchie, he read the lessons from the lectern at which I am how standing. The calamity of the war broke upon us, and both these young men offered for service, eagerly, as I know. Their term of service was short; within a few months both fell in action — Ritchie in Mesopotamia, on the banks of the Tigris; Alton on the tragic hills of Gallipoli. From today their memorials will face each other in this church which was their spiritual home. These two names included, the roll of honor we have set up at the west end of the church contains 167 names, thirty three of them distinguished by the cross which indicates 'Killed in action or died of wounds.' All inscribed there were at some time parishioners, most of them born in the parish and baptised at the font near which their record stands. We honor their names; we provide as best we can that they shall be held in everlasting remembrance — for us and for those who come after us an inspiration to duty, service, and sacrifice."
The clergy and choir, in procession, then moved to the site of the window, which the dean unveiled. A prayer of consecration was said by the Rev. C. T. Ritchie, and the procession returned, singing the hymn 'On the Resurrection Morning.' The Communion office then followed. -Evening Star, 20/3/1922.
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