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In memoriam

Corporal David William Ritchie

 

 

 

David William Ritchie was born at Kilrea in the district of Coleraine on 10 November 1886, the last of four children of farmer John Ritchie and his wife Sarah (nee Patten). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Kilrea with his parents and two siblings and working as a farm labourer.

Ritchie enlisted in the North Irish Horse in October or November 1912 (No.754).

On 26 January he embarked for France as part of a reinforcement draft for A and C Squadrons under 2nd Lieutenant Armstrong.

Soon after, however, he became seriously ill with cerebro spinal meningitis. He died at No.10 Stationery Hospital, St Omer, on 17 March 1915.

Corporal Ritchie was buried at Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, grave I.A.65. His gravestone inscription reads:

754 CORPORAL
D. W. RITCHIE
NORTH IRISH HORSE
17TH MARCH 1915 AGE 27

THE DEAD IN CHRIST
SHALL RISE

 

Image of Corporal Ritchie sourced from the Magherafelt War Dead site. Gravestone image kindly provided by Mick McCann, through his British War Graves website www.britishwargraves.co.uk.