RITCHIE, George
| Service Number: | 538 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 34th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Backworth, Newcastle upon Tyne, England , September 1878 |
| Home Town: | Adamstown, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Adamstown, New South Wales, Australia, 12 September 1941, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW METHODIST 4-14. 47. |
| Memorials: | Adamstown Methodist Church Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 538, 34th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 538, 34th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 2 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 538, 34th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Sydney | |
| 4 Nov 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 538, Transfer to 3rd Division Traffic Control | |
| 28 Apr 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 538, 3rd Division traffic control 2nd MD |
Help us honour George Ritchie's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Served during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery.
80 years ago today, on the Sunday afternoon of the 14th September 1941, Private George Ritchie, 3rd Divisional Signal Company (traffic control, Reg No-538), miner from 23 Fletcher Street, Adamstown, New South Wales, was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 63. METHODIST 4-14. 47.
Born at Backworth, Newcastle upon Tyne, England about 1878 to Joseph and Elizabeth Ritchie nee Hunter; husband of Emma Ritchie nee Watson (married 1906, Merewether, N.S.W., died 1918), also Elizabeth Ruby Ritchie nee Millar (married 1919, Redfern, N.S.W., died?), George enlisted January 1916 with the 34th Battalion at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Admitted to hospital 6.2.1917 (diarrhoea), 7.6.1918 (diarrhoea), 16.8.1918 (dysentery), George was invalided home December 1918, being discharged medically unfit (premature senility and debility) on the 28th April 1919.
The death notice for Emma states died at Newcastle Hospital on the 2nd February 1918 of neuritis, age 34.
Emma Ritchie sleeping in an unmarked grave. METHODIST 1 (WESLEYAN) E NW. 12.
Mr. Ritchie’s name has been inscribed on the Adamstown Citizens' Memorial, Adamstown Methodist Church Honour Roll (photo, unveiled on the 31st October 1915, 27 names inscribed, 2nd unveil on the 20th June 1917, 82 names inscribed, 115 names have now been inscribed, 17 Fallen), Loyal Pride of Adamstown Lodge, Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows (No. 126) Roll of Honour and the Adamstown Mechanics Institute Roll of Honour.
I recently located George resting in an unmarked grave, now long forgotten, so May 2021 I placed a cross adorned with poppies on the gravesite, taken a photo of the grave and uploaded the photo onto the Northern Cemetery website as a permanent record of his service.
I will be submitting an application to DVA asking for a Commonwealth War Graves Plaque, curbing and marble chip to restore Honour and Dignity to Mr. Ritchie.
Lest We Forget.
Click images to start slideshow.