Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-War O.B.E., Great War ‘Battle of Langemarke’ M.C. group of nine awarded to Brigadier J. N. Ritchie, Royal Field Artillery, who was taken Prisoner of War at Fleurbaix in 1918

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately engraved ‘Langemarke Nov. 1917, J.N.R.’; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Maj. J. N. Ritchie.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial, reverse officially dated 1942, with integral top riband bar, mounted for wear; together with the related miniature awards, very fine and better (9) £1,000-£1,400

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1968: Brigadier James Norman Ritchie, M.C., T.D., D.L., Honorary Director, Shropshire and West Midland Agricultural Society

M.C. London Gazette 17 December 1917:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in getting his guns into position under very great difficulties. Later, succeeded under heavy shell fire in taking ammunition up to the guns by pack transport at a time when other transport had failed to get through.’

James Norman Ritchie was born at Liverpool on 7 July 1896 and was educated at Loretto School, Edinburgh, and the South Eastern Agricultural College. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery (Territorial Force) on 4 February 1915, he was posted to the 4th West Lancashire Brigade Ammunition Column, R.F.A., and was promoted Lieutenant on 1 June 1916. Awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry at Langemarke, he was advanced Acting Major on 15 November 1917, and commanded “C” Battery, 286th Brigade, R.F.A. in 1918. He was recorded as missing in action on 9 April 1918, and subsequently found to have been taken prisoner of war at Fleurbaix. Held at Stralsund (Dalholm) P.O.W. camp, he was released on 17 December 1918. For his services during the Great War he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 7 November 1917).

Post-War Ritchie joined the 240th (Shropshire R.H.A.) Medium Battery R.A. (T.A), becoming their Commanding Officer in 1929. He transferred to the 60th Medium Battery in 1933, and was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in 1937. He served during the Second World War with the 6th A.A. Training Group as Commander 1941, and was advanced Brigadier in 1942, being awarded the Efficiency Decoration that same year (London Gazette 2 October 1942). He retired on 12 December 1945.

In later life Ritchie was a Deputy Lieutenant of Shropshire, as well as serving as Chairman of the Shropshire Territorial Army, and was High Sheriff. A well-known breeder of sheep and Hereford cattle, he served as Director of the Shropshire and West Midland Agricultural Society, ands was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1968 New Years’ Honour’s List, being invested with his insignia at Buckingham Palace on 12 March 1978. He died in April 1970.

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