Set in stone - Lest we forget
First member of the Royal Navy to receive the Victoria Cross during World War One to be remembered in Edinburgh.
A public call for information on one of Scotland鈥檚 World War One heroes was made today by the UK Government, the Royal Navy and the City of Edinburgh Council.
Commander Henry Peel Ritchie, the first member of the Royal Navy to receive the Victoria Cross during World War One was given it in recognition of his bravery in completing allied naval search and demolition operations off the east coast of Africa near Dar-es-Salaam despite being severely wounded.
A hundred years on from World War One, a commemorative stone will be laid on Friday to honour Commander Ritchie at 1 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh - the place of his birth and now the home of the Scotland Office. Among those attending will be Royal Navy personnel and veterans as well students and teachers from George Watson鈥檚 College 鈥� the school which Commander Ritchie attended.
Although much is known about Commander Ritchie鈥檚 bravery during conflict, little is known in the years which followed. The last trace of his family tree is from the 1958 when he died at his home Craigroyston House, Davidson鈥檚 Mains, Edinburgh just after one of his 3 daughters emigrated to America. There is also no trace of Commander Ritchie鈥檚 Victoria Cross medal.
Speaking ahead of the event Lord Wallace said:
Thousands of Scots are the descendants of First World War soldiers and in many households across the country people have researched their relatives history and involvement in World War One. Ahead of Friday鈥檚 ceremony and 100 years on from the start of First World War it would be fitting if we could uncover more about one of Scotland鈥檚 war heroes and the first member of the Royal Navy to receive the Victoria Cross during the war.
Commander Ritchie鈥檚 known family tree stops in the 1950s and we also sadly do not know what has happened to his Victoria Cross medal. This is why the UK Government, the Royal Navy and Edinburgh City Council have come together to make this call for information on the missing pieces in Commander Ritchie鈥檚 family tree.
Henry Peel Ritchie鈥檚 VC citation read:
鈥淔or most conspicuous bravery on the 28th November 1914 when in command of the searching and demolition operations at Dar-es-Salaam East Africa Though severely wounded several times his fortitude and resolution enabled him to continue to do his duty inspiring all by his example until at his eighth wound he became unconscious The interval between his first and last severe wound was between twenty and twenty five minutes.鈥�
His Victoria Cross was presented by King George V at Buckingham Palace in April 1915.
The Lord Provost, RT Hon Donald Wilson, who is also Edinburgh鈥檚 Veterans Champion, said:
100 years on from the First World War, it is crucial that Edinburgh continues to commemorate its war-time heroes. The tributes to the city鈥檚 Victoria Cross recipients will be a way for new generations to learn about who these servicemen were, in an engaging and meaningful way.
I hope that it encourages residents and visitors to stop and spend a moment to learn about the sacrifices these men have made, and remember them. I am delighted that Commander Henry Richie Peel鈥檚 life and story is being commemorated in this way. His medal may be lost, but at least his story won鈥檛 be. His tale and his honour will live on in Edinburgh.
Captain Chris Smith RN, Naval Regional Commander for Scotland & Northern Ireland, said.
Commander Ritchie was the first Royal Navy VC Award of the First World War so it鈥檚 particularly significant for us that we are able to acknowledge his bravery in a suitable and appropriate way. During the action at Dar-es-Salaam, in East Africa, he was in charge of HMS GOLIATH鈥檚 steam-driven pinnace or Ship鈥檚 boat as they carried out demolition operations when they came under enemy attack.
Despite being wounded himself, Commander Ritchie steered the boat to safety, through a sustained hail of enemy fire until, being hit an eighth time, he collapsed. But his boldness undoubtedly saved the lives of his crew and this was recognised through the award of the Victoria Cross.
Edinburgh has a strong connection with the Navy, and Henry Peel Ritchie as a born and bred Scot and Edinburgh native demonstrated the highest of standards and displayed unique courage in this action. So it鈥檚 an honour to be able to pay tribute to that courage here, in the city which helped define the qualities that made him the man he was and I know that the Royal Navy and the City are both very happy that we are able to unveil this lasting testament to his bravery.
The event takes place on a day where honouring Scotland鈥檚 World War One heroes is front and centre in Edinburgh.
Sportsman鈥檚 Battalion
Straight after the tribute to Commander Peel, a ceremony outside the Usher Hall will see Edinburgh鈥檚 Lord Provost mark 100 years since Sir George McCrae gave a stirring speech at the concert hall. The speech encouraged 800 men sign up to what became the 16th Battalion: The Royal Scots.
Known locally as 鈥楳cCrae鈥檚鈥� or 鈥楾he Sportsman鈥檚鈥� battalion, among the initial volunteers were at least 30 professional footballers from a number of clubs including, the majority of the Heart of Midlothian team. McCrae commanded the battalion through to November 1916, including at Contalmaison in the Battle of the Somme in July that year.
To remember McCrae and the men who signed up, the City of Edinburgh Council is renaming the area outside the Usher Hall 鈥楳cCrae鈥檚 Place鈥�. A street sign will be erected, and a commemorative flagstone will be unveiled in tribute to the battalion. In the evening, a tribute concert based on the soldiers鈥� lives will be held at the Usher Hall.