Site Home
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to accept cookies.
If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.
Great War Home
Search
Add Stories & Photos
Library
Help & FAQs
Features
Allied Army
Day by Day
RFC & RAF
Prisoners of War
War at Sea
Training for War
The Battles
Those Who Served
Hospitals
Civilian Service
Women at War
The War Effort
Central Powers Army
Central Powers Navy
Imperial Air Service
Library
World War Two
Submissions
Add Stories & Photos
Time Capsule
Information
Help & FAQs
Glossary
Our Facebook Page
Volunteering
News
Events
Contact us
Great War Books
About
242209Pte. William James Ritchie
British Army 2nd Btn. Middlesex Regiment
from:Westminster, London
(d.21st February 1918)
William Ritchie was my great-uncle (my grandfather's brother), born in Westminster, London. I knew that one of granddad's brothers had been killed in the Great War but it was not until researching my family's history in recent years that I have been able to discover a little more about him.
Having joined up with the Middlesex Regiment, William's war service began in October 1915, serving in France on the Western Front. He was killed in action near Ypres on 21st February 1918 and is buried in Poelcapelle British Cemetery. He was just 30 years old and left a widow and two small children.
When I was much younger I heard a family story that my grandfather John Ritchie, who by the end of the war was serving on the Western Front in the Labour Corps, actually came across his brother William's grave. Sadly, I never took much notice then, but now I wish I'd listened more to the reminiscences of older family members and the precious memories they shared.
We owe so much to William and his generation for the huge sacrifices they made in the service of their country.
"We will remember them".
Related Content:
Can you help us to add to our records?
The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them
Did your relative live through the Great War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial?
If so please let us know.
Do you know the location of a Great War "Roll of Honour?"We are very keen to track down these often forgotten documents and obtain photographs and transcriptions of the names recorded so that they will be available for all to remember.
Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice.
Celebrate your own Family History
Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Great War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc.
Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.
The free section of The Wartime Memories Project is run by volunteers.
This website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources and we currently have a huge backlog of submissions.
If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running.
Hosted by:
Copyright MCMXCIX - MMXXIV
- All Rights Reserved -We do not permit the use of any content from this website for the training of LLMs or for use in Generative AI, it also may not be scraped for the purpose of creating other websites.