Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Seaman J. MacRitchie, Benbow Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Royal Naval Reserve, who was interned in Holland after the fall of Antwerp, October 1914

1914 Star, with clasp, loose (A. 5475. J. MacRitchie, Sea. R.N.R. Benbow Bttn. R.N.D.); British War and Victory Medals (5475A J. MacRitchie. Smn. R.N.R.); Royal Naval Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (4859 D. J. MacRitchier. Smn. R.N.R.) surname of last partially officially corrected, generally very fine or better £260-£300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of 1914 Stars to the Royal Naval Division.

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John MacRitchie was born in North Tolsta, Isle of Lewis, Scotland in June 1894. He joined the Royal Naval Reserve in January 1914, and transferred to the Benbow Battalion, Royal Naval Division in September 1914.

MacRitchie embarked with the Battalion to defend Antwerp where, in early October, having belatedly received the order to withdraw, he was one of approximately 1,600 men of the Benbow, Collingwood and Hawke Battalions of the 1st Brigade who were forced to take refuge in neutral Holland in order to prevent unnecessary casualties or capture by the enemy. MacRitchie was interned under International Law on 9 October 1914 and housed in barracks in Groningen where, other than periods of leave from Holland from October - November 1918, he was so detained for the duration of the war. He was eventually repatriated, and was then demobilised at Kinross in January 1919 (awarded R.N.R. L.S. & G.C. at Stornoway in May 1930).

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