Tyneside Scottish Badge
Derek Johnstone has provided the following:
William Ritchie was born in 1897 at Horton, Northumberland to parents Alexander, an agricultural labourer, born at Longhoughton, and Jane Ann (nee Weallans) Ritchie born at Hebron near Morpeth. His parents were married in 1895 which was registered at Morpeth.
William was three in 1901 and his family was living at Hirst Head Farm, Bedlington where his father was a horseman on the farm. Also in the house at this time was William’s older sister Mary who was six years old.
In 1911 William, aged 13, was still at school and his family were living at Hirst Head, Bedlington.
William enlisted at Bedlington while living at Humford Mill near Bedlington and died at a hospital in Hamburg. On his death his effects, amounting to £26 18s 6d + £7 10s 0d, went to his father Alexander indicating William was probably single. CWGC information shows his parents living at Fawdon House, Longhirst, Morpeth after William’s death. William was formerly in the Territorial Reserves with service number 77733.
William Ritchie is remembered in Bedlington on B15.02, B15.09, B15.20 and B15.26 page 70
