Robert Nelson RITCHIE

RITCHIE, Robert Nelson

Service Number: 1568
Enlisted: 3 April 1915, Brisbane, Queensland
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 25th Infantry Battalion
Born: Tweed River, New South Wales, 19 June 1893
Home Town: Harrisville, Scenic Rim, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Police constable
Died: Died of Illness (meningitis), At sea (HMAT Aeneas), At sea (HMAT Aeneas A60), 19 July 1915, aged 22 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Buried at Sea, Chatby Memorial, Alexandria, Egypt
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brisbane Queensland Police Service Roll of Honour, Chatby Memorial, Alexandria, Egypt, Harrisville Memorial Gates
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World War 1 Service

3 Apr 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1568, Brisbane, Queensland
19 Jul 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1568, 25th Infantry Battalion
29 Jun 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1568, 25th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: ''
29 Jun 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1568, 25th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Aeneas, Brisbane

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Biography contributed by John Edwards

"After a short three week career as a Constable in the Queensland Police, Constable Robert Ritchie enlisted in the A.I.F on the 3 of April 1915. He embarked from Brisbane aboard the HMAT Aeneas A60 on the 29 of June 1915 as part of the 25th Infantry Battalion.  Conditions on the ships were cramped and the risk of illness was constant. Ritchie was one of the unlucky ones as he became seriously ill not long into the voyage.  His condition became critical and he died from cerebro-spinal meningitis and 10:40am on 19 July 1915. The convoy was halted and Ritchie was buried at sea with full military honours at the age of 23. Ritchie’s brother also served during the war." - SOURCE (www.police.qld.gov.au)

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