Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Willliam Robert Ritchie was born on 7 June 1887 at Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland, the eldest son of Robert Renwick and Alice Ann Beresford (née Meechan) Ritchie. In 1901, 11-year-old William was at home with his parents and siblings at Greenock. Robert and Alice and eleven children arrived at Lyttelton, New Zealand, on 2 November 1908. Another son, James Fleming Ritchie was born after their arrival but died at 2 years of age. He was buried at Ashburton. The family lived first at Allenton on the outskirts of Ashburton, then moved to Timaru in early 1913. William was a carter, living at home at Allenton, in 1911, and an electrician at the family’s Campbell Street, Timaru, address in 1914. William Robert Ritchie registered at the Timaru Defence Office on 8 May 1916 and enlisted on 1 June 1916. He was an electrician for private installation department of the Timaru Borough Council, and he had served three years with Volunteers in Scotland. He left for Trentham on 14 June 1916. William named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs Alice Ritchie, 13 Trafalgar Street, Timaru. Private W. R. Ritchie embarked with the Specialist Machine-Gun Section of the 18th Reinforcements, on 16 October 1916 per the “Willochra”. As of 14 January 1919, his next-of-kin was his wife - Mrs M. Ritchie, 62 Battersby Street, Belfast [Ireland]. William had married Mary McBurney (née Wells), a widow, on 7 January 1919 at Shankhill, Belfast, Ireland. At the time of his marriageWhen he married, he was residing at the Soldiers and Sailors Service Club, Belfast, Ireland. William had spent two periods of leave in 1918 in the UK. Corporal W. R. Ritchie returned to New Zealand per the “Corinthic”, arriving on 24 September 1919. He resumed his position as a wireman in the Power and Light Department of the Timaru Borough Council. On the 1919 elctoral roll, he is recorded at his mother’s Campbell Street address then as moving with his mother to Selwyn Street. A son William was born to William Robert and Mary Ritchie in 1920 and died in February, just 9 hours old; another William was born in 1921 and died in January, just 7 hours old. In December 1919, Mrs Alice Ritchie was challenged in court over the possession of the house she rented in Selwyn Street. Mrs Ritchie had been unable to find another house. She had five children, and “with her there resided a son and his wife and child who had only recently come to the country, the son having been on active service.” This would be William and Mary. The outcome initially supported Mrs Ritchie’s position. By mid-1920, her son (William) had bought a house, . . . “It was originally intended that she also should go into her son's new house, but owing to a little friction she wanted to get a house of her own. She had eight of a family to keep and another of her sons, who would be 20 in September, but who had served for two years with the Forces, tried to get a loan for a. house, but the Government refused, as he was too young. She and her daughters had huiited the town from end to end, but her family seemed to be the drawback with agents.” In early August, “at 67 Selwyn Street Morton and Pearson sell the whole of Mrs A. Ritchie’s practically new furniture and effects, including an exceptionally good piano.” When the clearing sale was held, after being postponed on account of bad weather, everything sold well, the piano fetching £91. Mrs Alice Ritchie died in 1932 in Wellington where she had gone to live, probably to be close to family. She was cremated and her ashes were interred in the family plot at Ashburton. Mr and Mrs W. R. Ritchie and their daughter Madge left Timaru for Wellington, en route for Johannesburg, in mid-September 1922. On 7 September at Mr W. R. Ritchie’s residence, 60 Church Street, Morton and Pearson offered for sale all the whole of his houseehold furniture, and as he was leaving New Zealand, everything was for absolute sale. Very satisfactory prices were realised at the clearing sale. During the interval between the first and second games on 9 September, “the local Soccerites will show their appreciation of the yeoman service rendered the game by Mr William Ritchie, who leaves on Wednesday next for South Africa, and a presentation will be made to him. Altogether an interesting afternoon is assured at Russell Square.” “FAREWELL TO MR RITCIHE. At the close of the Rangers-Rovers game, the soccer followers, players and Association members, took the opportunity of saying farewell to Mr W. Ritchie, who has taken a very prominent part in the resuscitation of the game m Timaru this year, having acted as a referee and as member of the management of the Association. Mr Ritchie leaves this week for South Africa, and it was unanimously agreed that his services could not be allowed to pass unrecognised by some small token, and he was presented with a case of pipes and a wallet. In the absence of the President of tho Association, Mr A. Horwell, one of tho Vice-Presidents, made the presentation, and in a neat speech he eulogised tho ever ready help given by Mr Ritchie, and his sound advice on questions connected with the administration of the game. His departure when soccer was in its infancy was greatly regretted and was a decided loss to the Association, but all footballers wished him the best of good luck and prosperity in his new sphere. (Applause). Mr Ritchie briefly returned thanks. He expressed the pleasure he had derived from his association with tho game, and he earnestly wished it every success in the future. Although he was going many miles from New Zealand, he would always remember his stay here and the fortunes of the game he loved so much would be of the keenest interest to him. Three cheers were then given for Mr Ritchie.” William Robert Ritchie does not appear in New Zealand records after this. William and Mary and Mary’s daughter, Margaret (Madge), set off on their travels. In 1940, William R. and Maryann are residing at Highland Park, Wayne, Michiga, USA, William employed as a property manager. There, too, is their 15-year-old son, Robert M. Ritchie, born in Michigan. Robert was four months old when he and his mother left Northern Ireland (62 Battenberg Street, Belfast) on 28 November 1924 for Canada. William Robert Ritchie registered at Detroit in 1942 for service in World War II. William Robert Ritchie died on 20 April 1952 at Detroit, Michigan, USA, aged 62.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [21 October 2021]; Timaru Herald, 18 February 1914, 7 March 1914, 9 May 1916, 13 June 1916, 11 December 1919, 11 November 1919, 31 July 1920, 10 August 1920, 6, 8, 11 & 16 September 1922, NZ Times, 2 September 1919 (Papers Past) [22, 23 & 25 October 2021]; 1901 Scotland census return (ancestry.com.au) [21 October 2021]; 1940 USA census return (ancestry.com.au) [23 October 2021]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [21 & 22 October 2021]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.