Notes
All extra details are based on information supplied by the College Archivist (see Additional Information). This included the following biographical details. He was born in Dunedin, New Zealand on 31st December, 1879, the son of John, and educated at Dunedin High before matriculating in 1899. He married Eirene Mary in November 1915. Another biographical source (see References) states: 'John Ritchie, from New Zealand, read law, and in 1916 was sent to Mesopotamia to the advance trenches of the force trying to relieve Kut. His friend wrote that he had a ‘a pride of service…rather than love of soldiering, which bred a cheerfulness in him that was able to cope with all difficulties and discomforts…the whistle of lead and the thud of shrapnel were things he hated and overcame from sheer sense of duty’. Attacking the Ottoman position outside Kut, he was last seen advancing at the head of his men. More tragically, he had recently got married in November 1915.'