Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 57443 James McRitchie

Age: 23
From: Glasgow
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
D.O.W Friday 5th January 1917
Commemorated at: Warlincourt Halte Brit Cem
Panel Ref: IV.F.4

James McRitchie, son of James McRitchie and Agnes Hind (née Ramage) was born in The Gorbals, Glasgow. Online family trees show the middle initial H, and his date of birth as 7th December 1893. His father was born in Perthshire in about 1863 and his mother in Glasgow in about 1871.

In 1901 the family is living at 14 Preston Street, Govanhill, Glasgow. His father is 38, a mercantile clerk, his mother is 30, James is 7 and Janet 1. Daughter Agnes was born later that year.

Unfortunately the 1911 Scotland census is not available. Family trees show that his father died in 1910 and his mother married George Allum in June 1914.

On 12th October 1914 James was baptised in Strathbungo, Glasgow together with sisters Janet and Agnes. He would have been about 20 years old, Janet 15, and Agnes 13.

James enlisted in Glasgow joining the Army Cyclist Corps as Private 1158. He was subsequently transferred to the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 57443.

James died of wounds on 05th January 1917, aged 23.

He now rests at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery.

The site of the cemetery was chosen in May 1916. It was used from June 1916 to May 1917 by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, in February 1917 by the 1/1st South Midland, and from April to June 1917 by the 32nd. The whole of plots VII, VIII, IX and X were filled in April and May 1917, the months of the Battles of Arras. From June 1917, the cemetery was practically unused until the fighting of May and June 1918, when field ambulances buried in it. After the Armistice the cemetery was increased by graves brought in from other smaller cemeteries.

The cemetery now contains 1,266 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 29 German and two French war graves.

The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

He had served for just under a year when he died.

His mother Agnes received James’ Army effects, a War Gratuity of £4-10s, and a pension of 7/- a week.

By 1936 his mother and George Allum have moved to 54 Daisy Street, Glasgow, where she remained until she died in 1951.

James is commemorated on the City of Glasgow Roll of Honour and also at Queens Park Church situated at 170 Queens Drive, Glasgow.

We currently have no further information on James McRitchie. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

89th Brigade On This Day.

110 Years Ago.
The Battle of the Transloy Ridges begins. more....

Killed On This Day.

(110 Years this day)
Monday 16th October 1916.
Pte 22929 Edward Bird
19 years old

(110 Years this day)
Monday 16th October 1916.
Pte 16795 William Frederick Collister
23 years old

(109 Years this day)
Tuesday 16th October 1917.
L/Cpl 49038 Ernest Yardley
31 years old

(108 Years this day)
Wednesday 16th October 1918.
Pte 85187 James Hoy
31 years old

(107 Years this day)
Thursday 16th October 1919.
Pte 36438 Hugh Morris
23 years old