Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-War M.B.E. group of seven awarded to Chief Superintendent D. Ritchie, Liverpool City Police

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; British War and Victory Medals (S-17265 Pte. D. Ritchie. A. & S.H.); Defence Medal; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; Police L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (Ch. Supt. David Ritchie) mounted as worn; together with the recipient’s Liverpool City Police Good Service Medal, silver, 1 clasp, Service Over 30 Years, the reverse engraved ‘Presented by Watch Committee to Supt. D. Ritchie 4-2-45’, with top silver riband bar; Liverpool City Police Good Service Medal, bronze, the edge engraved ‘Supt. David Ritchie.’, and the reverse engraved ‘Presented by Watch Committee 4th Feb: 1940’, with top bronze riband bar; two Regimental Prize Medals, silver, engraved ‘17265 Sgt. D. Ritchie A Coy. Tug-of-War 10th (S.) Bn. A.S. Hrs. July 1919’ and ‘Sgt. D. Ritchie 34th Div. Germany 1919.’; and the recipient’s Royal Life Saving Society Swimming Proficiency Medal, bronze, the reverse engraved ‘D Ritchie. Oct. 1923’, generally very fine and better (12) £340-£380

M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1953: ‘David Ritchie, Esq., Chief Superintendent, Liverpool City Police Force.’

David Ritchie was born in Greenfield, Dumfriesshire, on 27 February 1896 and after leaving school was employed as a ploughman. He attested for the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on 18 August 1916, and served with the 10th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front. He was discharged on 5 November 1919, and joined the Liverpool City Police on 4 February 1920.

Ritchie was awarded half a crown by the Watch Committee as a reward for services at a fire on 4 November 1924, and was promoted Sergeant on 23 November 1925, Inspector on 16 November 1934, Chief Inspector on 26 May 1936, and Superintendent on 28 March 1939. For his services during the Second World War he was awarded the Defence Medal, and was promoted Chief Superintendent on 18 January 1949. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1953 New Year’s Honours’ List, and retired on 1 May 1956, after 36 years’ service. He died in Liverpool on 9 March 1977.

Sold with copied research including a group photographic image of the recipient.