202935 Private
8th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, 44th Infantry Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division
Age: 19
Date of Death: Killed in Action 31.7.17
Buried: Menin Gate Memorial Panel 38
Family: Son of George and Isabella Ritchie, 27 Williamson Street, Falkirk.
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The action leading to his death
On the opening day of Third Ypres on 31 July the Battalion, as the Support Battalion, were in their  assembly positions on Cambridge Road trench by 12.45am. The attack was launched at 3.50am and the 9th Black Watch and 8th/10th Gordon Highlanders went forward under a supporting barrage. On the right, the 8th Seaforths had escaped the German counter barrage that had been put down on Cambridge Road some five minutes after zero. Moving forward in company’s and on reaching the German front line ‘A’ and ‘D’ Company’s became mixed up with the Black Watch and the Gordon’s who were engaged in a series of small fights. Crossing No Man’s Land in the dark it was difficult to estimate the casualties with ‘B’ Company reporting 20 casualties from shelling. Both ‘A’ and ‘D’ Company’s had lost their diamond formation and with the whole Battalion now in the German front line the diamond formation had been lost. With the Blue Line having been reached the Battalion dug in around Douglas Villa. At 7.30pm the Battalion was ordered forward to the Black Line to relieve the 9th Black Watch with Battalion HQ established in Frezenberg Redoubt.
Medals Awarded:
The British War Medal, Victory Medal
