289:
410:
126:
laid lines of beacons across the
Channel in carefully surveyed positions to guide the converted rail ferries that laid the mines. Ritchie was next in charge of a flotilla of trawlers attempting to locate and "catch" one of the German magnetic mines dropped by parachute into the channel. In 1940, as
389:
Between his sea assignments, Ritchie had a series of headquarters appointments. From 1951 - 1954, he was
Superintendent of the Oceanographic Branch. In 1957, on his return from New Zealand, where he had been promoted Captain, he became Assistant Hydrographer (2), and in 1960 Assistant Hydrographer
276:
estuary to establish safe approach channels for supply boats for the ongoing siege. After that they were again working to survey and re-open ports as they were taken from the enemy. This work was completed by
February 1945. Hostilities in Europe ended in May 1945, but major work remained for the
189:
that was to provide additional berthing facilities to supplement the main canal ports. He and a colleague were then trained in the use of folding canvas canoes for carrying out clandestne beach surveys in preparation for tank landings. They developed a system for making measurements and detecting
268:, one of two temporary harbours which were essential in bringing supplies across the channel for the invading forces. The surveyors laid accurately positioned buoys to guide the sinking of blockships to form a breakwater, and then surveyed the resulting harbour. To aid in this,
285:, developed from the prototype used in Normandy, was being introduced, and Ritchie spent time in the East Anglian countryside locating Ordnance Survey marks so that the relays could be accurately positioned. This aided the survey work as well as navigation in the North sea.
421:, improved printing facilities were installed, allowing four-colour printing of charts, and metrication was started. In 1967, Ritchie led the United Kingdom delegation to the Ninth International Hydrographic Conference. In the same year he published
225:
to head a mobile survey unit. Working with both a truck and a boat, this unit followed close behind allied forces as they headed west across North Africa, surveying ports as they were taken. Their work in North Africa ended at
63:. One evening, Learmonth was at dinner with the family, and regaled the young cadet with tales of surveying in distant waters. In 1936 he joined the Surveying Service, being appointed to the old coal-burning surveying ship,
1111:
242:, and then requisitioning trains to Syracuse. They then followed the invasion forces onto the Italian mainland, and resumed their mobile survey work on the east coast as the attacking forces moved north.
425:, a history of British Naval Hydrography in the Nineteenth Century. In 1970 he presented a more technical historical paper on the development of surveying methods over the previous two centuries.
288:
307:
to a survey ship, and then sailed as her first lieutenant to the far east, surveying for 18 months in
Malaysia and Brunei. Ritchie then continued to work in the surveying branch of the
173:
carried both naval and civilian passengers as well as cargo. Here
Ritchie met Disa, "a young woman with flowing corn-blonde hair". After detours to Halfax and Rio de Janeiro,
1044:
277:
surveyors, clearing mines, locating, surveying and marking wrecks, and re-surveying the shifting banks off the
English coasts that had been negelected during the war.
1121:
1096:
203:
802:
491:. The couple had three sons, John Patrick and Mark, and one daughter, Tertia. He was a prolific author of books and other publications. His books include
118:. The barrage was designed to confine merchant shipping to narrow safe channels, aiding inspection of neutral shipping for contraband, and to prevent
1106:
446:
177:
arrived in Cape Town, where the couple were married, and had a few days together. Ritchie then left for Suez in a
Norwegian troopship to join HMS
128:
944:
717:
473:
939:
997:
971:
559:
1116:
438:
483:
After his return from Monaco he lived with his wife, Disa, in the family house built by his grandfather in the fishing village of
409:
1041:
194:, where they were nearly captured by Italian soldiers, and later made their way to safety in a strong gale during the raid on
1101:
652:
52:
457:
774:
398:
which he held for five years, responsible for the operations of the RN Surveying
Squadron and the publication of the
55:
from the age of 13, from where he went to sea at the age of 17. He decided to specialise in surveying after meeting
453:
230:, sounding the channel which was being restored by the US Navy. Orders then came to follow the US invasion into
395:
60:
36:
829:
51:, 1914, of Scottish parents, Sir Douglas Ritchie and Lady Margaret Stephen Ritchie. He was educated at the
517:
from 1985–1995. A comprehensive list of his publications is given in the obituary that appeared in
477:
442:
434:
301:
282:
513:
465:
461:
403:
356:
312:
265:
135:
64:
1091:
1086:
779:
531:
59:, a former Hydrographer of the Navy who knew Ritchie's father through their work on the Board of the
710:
Charts and
Surveys in Peace and War: The History of the Royal Navy's Hydrographic Service, 1919-1970
668:
589:
433:
After his retirement from the Navy in 1971, Ritchie spent 18 months as a senior research fellow at
319:
56:
847:
852:
469:
199:
147:
949:
713:
648:
594:
257:
182:
1008:
749:
527:
261:
235:
104:
1066:
1048:
554:
399:
363:
246:
112:
83:
71:
382:
in preparation for the
British nuclear tests, which took place the following year, using
610:
352:
222:
75:
892:
1080:
542:
488:
371:
330:
218:
191:
190:
tunnels in darkness. In May they were using this method behind enemy lines near the
877:
391:
379:
337:
94:
871:
753:
519:
508:
348:
326:
32:
28:
830:"HMS Challenger's World Voyage 1950-52, Part I. Atlantic & Pacific Oceans"
583:
538:
484:
383:
308:
186:
143:
115:
598:
341:
162:
1070:
142:
was next employed measuring the speeds of currents through the sounds into
437:. he was then elected first in 1972 and again in 1977 as president of the
311:
travelling all over the World and commanding four of HM surveying Ships:
245:
In February 1944, Ritchie was back in home waters as first lieutenant of
90:
417:
During his period as hydrographer, operations were fully transferred to
272:
was equipped with an early radiolocation system. They next surveyed the
917:
526:
In 2009 he donated his collection on the history of hydrography to the
418:
273:
227:
214:
119:
48:
24:
367:
239:
231:
195:
79:
893:"Developments in British hydrography since the days of Captain Cook"
413:
An early metric four-colour chart, Gibraltar Bay, Published in 1968
238:. This involved comveying their equipment in a US landing craft to
408:
287:
35:
work and as an author of many publications on hydrography. He was
669:"An hydrographer's tale: a tribute to Rear Admiral Steve Ritchie"
318:(1950-1951) on a world circling voyage with scientists on board;
300:
In early 1946, Ritchie oversaw the conversion of the minesweeper
166:
1112:
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
460:(he was president from 1970 to 1972), the Silver Medal of the
292:
Part of Christmas Island (Kiritimati), surveyed by Ritchie in
940:"Challenger Society for Marine Science Honorary Membership"
740:"Obituary: Rear Admiral G. S. Ritchie CB DSC (1914-2012)".
678:. The Challenger Society for Marine Science. pp. 10–11
252:. His wife Disa was able to rejoin him from South Africa.
281:, after a refit, played a major part in this work. The
362:, recorded the deepest part of the ocean trench depth
445:, in the service of the then 50 Member States of the
712:. London: H.M. Stationery Office. pp. 230–231.
452:
Admiral Ritchie received the Founder's Medal of the
23:
CB DSC (30 October 1914 – 8 May 2012) was a British
972:"East Lancs' celebrated rear-admiral dies, aged 97"
582:
507:(2003). He wrote a regular column describing how
402:worldwide series. In the same year he received a
82:. In 1939 he returned to home waters, serving in
150:to defend the anchorage against U-boat attack.
370:(10,900 m, 35,761 ft) using both wire and
111:returned to Dover to support the laying of the
865:
863:
511:used to be, for the international publication
8:
735:
733:
731:
729:
480:, of which he had been the first president.
390:(1). In 1966 he was promoted to the rank of
978:. Newsquest Media Group Ltd. 16 August 2012
593:. No. 48817. 11 May 2012. p. 28.
876:. London: Hollis & Carter – via
213:was then involved in a survey work in the
256:then took part in Operation Neptune, the
856:(Supplement). 2 June 1967. p. 6270.
769:
767:
765:
763:
703:
701:
699:
697:
695:
693:
645:No day too long - an hydrographer's tale
571:
501:No Day too Long: An Hydrographer's Tale
447:International Hydrographic Organization
146:in preparation for the building of the
129:British occupation of the Faroe Islands
638:
636:
634:
632:
630:
628:
626:
624:
622:
620:
493:Challenger - The Life of a Survey Ship
198:. For this action, Ritchie, by then a
138:which was to be used as a naval base.
945:Challenger Society for Marine Science
918:"Presidents and Directors of the RIN"
834:The International Hydrographic Review
828:Gaskell, T.F.; Ritchie, G.S. (1953).
775:"Rear Admiral George Stephen Ritchie"
474:Challenger Society for Marine Science
181:. Their first task was to survey the
7:
1063:Challenger the life of a survey ship
900:Journal of the Royal Society of Arts
577:
575:
1122:Royal Navy officers of World War II
1097:Companions of the Order of the Bath
472:. He was an honorary member of the
1007:. 2009. p. 10. Archived from
560:United Kingdom Hydrographic Office
157:early in 1942, travelling on S.S.
14:
1042:"Steve Ritchie - A Living Legend"
439:International Hydrographic Bureau
221:. In January 1943, he arrived in
441:, thus spending 10 years in the
1107:Hydrographers of the Royal Navy
920:. Royal Institute of Navigation
456:in 1972, the Gold Medal of the
476:and an emeritus Member of the
53:Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
1:
458:Royal Institute of Navigation
394:and appointed to the post of
384:Christmas Island (Kiritimati)
355:. In 1951 on the survey ship
260:, supporting the creation of
122:from traversing the Channel.
1065:, New York Abelard-Schuman,
803:"Rear-Admiral Steve Ritchie"
754:10.1080/03085694.2013.731219
234:and join the Eighth Army in
499:(1967), his autobiography,
204:Distinguished Service Cross
1138:
647:. Durham: Pentland Press.
454:Royal Geographical Society
74:, surveying the coasts of
537:He died on 8 May 2012 in
1117:Royal Navy rear admirals
396:Hydrographer of the Navy
61:Port of London Authority
37:Hydrographer of the Navy
1059:Ritchie, George Stephen
103:On the outbreak of the
57:Sir Frederick Learmonth
1047:2 January 2011 at the
891:Ritchie, G.S. (1970).
870:Ritchie, G.S. (1967).
643:Ritchie, G.S. (1992).
443:Principality of Monaco
435:Southampton University
414:
374:. In 1956, Ritchie in
297:
21:George Stephen Ritchie
1102:English hydrographers
1005:Newscastle University
708:Morris, R.O. (1995).
462:Royal Society of Arts
412:
404:Companion of the Bath
378:was surveying in the
291:
89:, and then worked in
976:Lancashire Telegraph
952:on 12 September 2011
748:(1): 115–118. 2013.
601:. Online Ref: 103502
532:Newcastle University
478:Hydrographic Society
47:Ritchie was born in
1052:Hydro International
873:The Admiralty Chart
590:The Daily Telegraph
514:Hydro International
497:The Admiralty Chart
466:Prix Manley-Bendall
423:The Admiralty Chart
347:(1963-1965) in the
206:(DSC) for bravery.
70:, operating in the
39:from 1966 to 1971.
853:The London Gazette
470:Academie de Marine
415:
298:
202:, was awarded the
148:Churchill Barriers
719:978-0-11-772456-3
584:"Deaths: Ritchie"
429:Post naval career
325:(1953-1956), the
258:Normandy landings
183:Great Bitter Lake
1129:
1073:
1024:
1023:
1021:
1019:
1013:
1002:
994:
988:
987:
985:
983:
968:
962:
961:
959:
957:
948:. Archived from
936:
930:
929:
927:
925:
914:
908:
907:
906:(5165): 270–283.
897:
888:
882:
881:
867:
858:
857:
844:
838:
837:
825:
819:
818:
816:
814:
809:. 13 August 2013
799:
793:
792:
790:
788:
771:
758:
757:
737:
724:
723:
705:
688:
687:
685:
683:
673:
665:
659:
658:
640:
615:
614:
608:
606:
586:
579:
528:Robinson Library
262:Mulberry harbour
185:, a part of the
105:Second World War
1137:
1136:
1132:
1131:
1130:
1128:
1127:
1126:
1077:
1076:
1057:
1049:Wayback Machine
1040:(October 2004)
1036:Boesjes, Johan
1033:
1028:
1027:
1017:
1015:
1011:
1000:
996:
995:
991:
981:
979:
970:
969:
965:
955:
953:
938:
937:
933:
923:
921:
916:
915:
911:
895:
890:
889:
885:
869:
868:
861:
846:
845:
841:
827:
826:
822:
812:
810:
801:
800:
796:
786:
784:
773:
772:
761:
739:
738:
727:
720:
707:
706:
691:
681:
679:
676:Ocean Challenge
671:
667:
666:
662:
655:
642:
641:
618:
604:
602:
581:
580:
573:
568:
555:Admiralty chart
551:
431:
400:Admiralty Chart
364:Challenger Deep
336:(1959), in the
72:South China Sea
45:
17:
16:British admiral
12:
11:
5:
1135:
1133:
1125:
1124:
1119:
1114:
1109:
1104:
1099:
1094:
1089:
1079:
1078:
1075:
1074:
1055:
1032:
1031:External links
1029:
1026:
1025:
1014:on 3 July 2010
989:
963:
931:
909:
883:
859:
839:
820:
794:
759:
725:
718:
689:
660:
653:
616:
611:Newspapers.com
570:
569:
567:
564:
563:
562:
557:
550:
547:
430:
427:
353:North Atlantic
223:Tripoli, Libya
44:
41:
27:noted for his
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1134:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1084:
1082:
1072:
1068:
1064:
1060:
1056:
1053:
1050:
1046:
1043:
1039:
1035:
1034:
1030:
1010:
1006:
999:
993:
990:
977:
973:
967:
964:
951:
947:
946:
941:
935:
932:
919:
913:
910:
905:
901:
894:
887:
884:
879:
875:
874:
866:
864:
860:
855:
854:
849:
843:
840:
835:
831:
824:
821:
808:
807:The Telegraph
804:
798:
795:
783:. 4 June 2012
782:
781:
776:
770:
768:
766:
764:
760:
755:
751:
747:
743:
736:
734:
732:
730:
726:
721:
715:
711:
704:
702:
700:
698:
696:
694:
690:
677:
670:
664:
661:
656:
650:
646:
639:
637:
635:
633:
631:
629:
627:
625:
623:
621:
617:
612:
600:
596:
592:
591:
585:
578:
576:
572:
565:
561:
558:
556:
553:
552:
548:
546:
544:
543:Aberdeenshire
540:
535:
533:
529:
524:
523:
521:
516:
515:
510:
506:
502:
498:
494:
490:
489:Aberdeenshire
486:
481:
479:
475:
471:
467:
463:
459:
455:
450:
448:
444:
440:
436:
428:
426:
424:
420:
411:
407:
405:
401:
397:
393:
387:
385:
381:
377:
373:
372:echo sounding
369:
365:
361:
360:
354:
350:
346:
345:
339:
335:
334:
329:survey ship;
328:
324:
323:
317:
316:
310:
306:
305:
295:
290:
286:
284:
280:
275:
271:
267:
263:
259:
255:
251:
250:
243:
241:
237:
233:
229:
224:
220:
219:Gulf of Aqaba
216:
212:
207:
205:
201:
197:
193:
192:Gulf of Bomba
188:
184:
180:
176:
172:
168:
165:, headed for
164:
160:
156:
151:
149:
145:
141:
137:
133:
130:
125:
121:
117:
114:
110:
106:
101:
99:
98:
92:
88:
87:
81:
77:
73:
69:
68:
62:
58:
54:
50:
42:
40:
38:
34:
30:
26:
22:
19:Rear-Admiral
1062:
1058:
1051:
1037:
1016:. Retrieved
1009:the original
1004:
992:
980:. Retrieved
975:
966:
954:. Retrieved
950:the original
943:
934:
922:. Retrieved
912:
903:
899:
886:
878:Google Books
872:
851:
842:
833:
823:
811:. Retrieved
806:
797:
785:. Retrieved
778:
745:
741:
709:
680:. Retrieved
675:
663:
644:
609:– via
603:. Retrieved
588:
536:
525:
518:
512:
504:
500:
496:
492:
482:
451:
432:
422:
416:
392:rear admiral
388:
380:Line Islands
375:
358:
343:
338:Persian Gulf
332:
321:
314:
304:Sharpshooter
303:
299:
293:
283:Decca System
278:
269:
253:
248:
244:
210:
208:
178:
174:
170:
158:
154:
153:Ritche left
152:
139:
136:Scaale Fjord
131:
127:part of the
123:
116:Mine Barrage
108:
102:
96:
85:
66:
46:
43:Naval career
33:hydrographic
29:cartographic
20:
18:
1092:2012 deaths
1087:1914 births
1018:22 November
924:22 November
848:"No. 44326"
742:Imago Mundi
520:Imago Mundi
509:hydrography
503:(1992) and
386:as a base.
349:West Indies
327:New Zealand
266:Arromanches
209:Ritchie in
1081:Categories
956:6 February
787:6 February
780:The Herald
654:0110555139
605:6 February
539:Collieston
485:Collieston
359:Challenger
315:Challenger
309:Royal Navy
200:Lieutenant
187:Suez Canal
144:Scapa Flow
998:"Advance"
599:0307-1235
505:As it Was
468:from the
366:of 5,960
342:HMS
333:Dalrymple
331:HMS
313:HMS
211:Endeavour
179:Endeavour
163:Liverpool
134:surveyed
65:HMS
1071:6245841M
1061:(1958),
1045:Archived
549:See also
495:(1957),
464:and the
296:in 1956.
236:Syracuse
217:and the
155:Franklin
140:Franklin
132:Franklin
124:Franklin
109:Franklin
97:Franklin
91:Labrador
982:19 July
813:18 July
682:25 July
419:Taunton
376:Lachlan
368:fathoms
322:Lachlan
294:Lachlan
274:Morlaix
228:Bizerta
215:Red Sea
175:Ceramic
171:Ceramic
159:Ceramic
120:U-boats
113:Channel
49:Burnley
25:admiral
1069:
1038:et al.
716:
651:
597:
320:HMNZS
240:Licata
232:Sicily
196:Tobruk
80:Borneo
76:Malaya
67:Herald
1054:8(8):
1012:(PDF)
1001:(PDF)
896:(PDF)
672:(PDF)
566:Notes
344:Vidal
279:Scott
270:Scott
264:B at
254:Scott
249:Scott
161:from
86:Jason
1020:2010
984:2024
958:2024
926:2021
815:2024
789:2024
714:ISBN
684:2024
649:ISBN
607:2024
595:ISSN
357:HMS
351:and
340:and
302:HMS
247:HMS
167:Suez
95:HMS
84:HMS
78:and
31:and
904:118
750:doi
530:at
93:on
1083::
1067:OL
1003:.
974:.
942:.
902:.
898:.
862:^
850:.
832:.
805:.
777:.
762:^
746:65
744:.
728:^
692:^
674:.
619:^
587:.
574:^
545:.
541:,
534:.
487:,
449:.
406:.
169:.
107:,
100:.
1022:.
986:.
960:.
928:.
880:.
836:.
817:.
791:.
756:.
752::
722:.
686:.
657:.
613:.
522:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.