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568:. Ritchie was rushed to the sick bay, where it was ascertained that he had been hit in eight separate places. The raid had cost the British one dead, fourteen seriously wounded and twelve captured after they were left behind in the confusion. The raiders had in turn immobilised three large merchant vessels and destroyed several shore installations, as well as taking thirty five prisoners.
608:. Ritchie had not initially been recommended for this award; the recommendation being submitted at a later date by an unidentified figure in the Admiralty. Snelling speculates that the Admiralty's change of heart was possibly a morale-boosting measure, although Ritchie's courage during the action was never called into question. The
520:
to the harbour entrance to cover the withdrawal, and gathered together several small boats moored in the harbour. These he secured around his launch, providing added buoyancy in case it received fatal damage in the engagement he was sure would ensue. With preparations complete, one of
Ritchie's boats
434:. Their mission was to augment the existing blockage by immobilising or sinking those cargo ships trapped in the port, thus denying its use to the Germans as well. Command of the assault was given to Commander Ritchie as the second most senior officer present, and he commandeered two small auxiliary
583:
returned to Dar-es-Salaam and reduced most of the seafront to rubble, setting fire to several other districts of the town as well. This reprisal served only to turn the hitherto neutral local populace against the
British. Feelings ran high in both camps following the raid, with the British claiming
229:
concerning the correct medal to award, it was not until 24 April 1915, nearly six months later, that the medal was presented. Ritchie never fully recovered from his wounds and was forced into early retirement the following year. Although he lived another 41 years, he never again commanded at sea.
484:
and a handful of small boats and launches from the blockading ships. There were no signs of life on the target ships as
Ritchie's flotilla moved uncontested into the port, and the shoreline was described by officers in the raiding party as "utterly deserted" and "cool and inviting". Shortly after
508:
further downriver to check for other shipping, but the small ship grounded on a sandbar. Assuming the route was blocked, he returned to the two cargo ships on one of the expedition's small launches. It was at this stage, whilst conducting a final inspection, that he made the discovery of a large
714:
For 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
540:
responded with a heavy barrage, demolishing several streets in the town, including the
Governor's Palace. Ritchie, aboard the only remaining British boat in the harbour, attempted to pick up one of his officers who had earlier gone aboard the German hospital ship
584:
that white flags flying from several shore installations should have prevented any German attack, and the
Germans insisting that the British had attempted to capture their merchant vessels' crews despite promises not to do so. According to Stephen Snelling in
40:
612:
and bullet wounds he sustained in the raid were extensive, including injuries to his forehead, left thumb, left arm (twice), right arm, right hip and a badly broken right leg after being hit by two large-calibre machine gun bullets.
493:. However they were then challenged by the port's commanding officer, who questioned their right to be in the anchorage and demanded to be permitted to observe their actions in order that he could make a report. In a meeting aboard
509:
number of empty ammunition cases and discarded bullets in the holds of the cargo ships. Deducing that the German crew had armed themselves before they left their vessels, he suspected preparations were underway to
429:
and the other heavy
British warships from entering the harbour to shell the undefended city. With close-range bombardment impossible, the British assembled assault teams with volunteers from the small blockading
464:
The day prior to the raid the decision was taken that, in order to allow the
Germans time to evacuate the target ships and minimise casualties, they would be warned of the British intentions. In a brief
1121:
652:
Following his retirement
Ritchie settled with his family back in his home city of Edinburgh, and lived a quiet and uneventful retirement. He was not involved in any official capacity during the
560:
With most of his crew wounded, Ritchie refused to relinquish his place at the helm until he had steered his boat to safety. He was discovered "simply smothered in blood and barely conscious" by
1126:
709:
The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the
Victoria Cross to Commander Henry Peel Ritchie Royal Navy for the conscious act of bravery specified below -
1141:
1116:
616:
Ritchie spent six weeks in hospital in
Zanzibar before he was considered well enough to be transported home. In England he recovered during the spring of 1915 at
268:
six years later, and served for the next fifteen years as a junior staff officer at Sheerness Gunnery School. In 1900 Ritchie became the armed forces lightweight
317:
stationed in British waters. It was said by one of his junior officers that "Ritchie had the reputation of being very strict, but I always found him most fair".
597:
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528:) moved to the harbour entrance. There it was met with a hail of fire from the shore, where the hidden German crews and town garrison had lain in wait.
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was also attacked, but despite sustaining severe damage both craft were able to limp to safety, carrying several wounded. From outside the harbour
497:
it was explained to him that British orders were to disable German assets in the harbour and that, being at war, his permission was unnecessary.
225:
Despite the courage of his actions during the raid, Ritchie was not initially recommended for the Victoria Cross. Delayed by discussion at the
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and several smaller coastal vessels – all of which could conceivably be used to resupply the trapped cruiser should they leave port.
677:
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to conduct a medical inspection. This effort was unsuccessful, and on leaving the harbour Ritchie's launch came under sustained fire from
460:
Kaiserstrasse in 1905. This was the main street of the city, and was very badly damaged by naval bombardment during and after the raid.
1015:
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at the age of fourteen, in 1890. Rapidly rising in the navy due to keen intelligence and impressive strength, Ritchie was promoted to
974:
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eighth wound he became unconscious The interval between his first and last severe wound was between twenty and twenty five minutes
473:, which request was denied. Ritchie was informed that he could begin his assault on the following morning of 28 November 1914.
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that neither the harbour nor its ships would be used for military purposes, the decision was taken by British Admiral
258:
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206:, the highest and most prestigious award for valour "in the face of the enemy" that can be given to members of the
379:, both of which were known to be operating in the Indian Ocean at that time. This concern was amplified because
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649:, he retired in 1917 having been deemed unfit for further service as a legacy of the wounds he had received.
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champion, and was the runner-up in the same contest the following year. In July 1902 he was posted to the
394:
on a raid from the port. Remaining in Dar-es-Salaam's large natural harbour were the German cargo ships
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Despite this discovery Ritchie resolved to continue as ordered. He took the precaution of sending
504:
could continue operations. Leaving demolition parties aboard the cargo vessels, Ritchie then took
387:, had operated from Dar-es-Salaam in the early months of the war and had sunk the British cruiser
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that the shipping in the port must nevertheless be neutralised. The Germans had pre-emptively
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His shore service ended in March 1911, when he was posted as senior lieutenant to the
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armed forces. Ritchie received the first VC awarded to naval personnel during the
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the German defenders requested that the British conduct their operations under a
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289:, he met and married Christiana Lilian Jardine, with whom he had two daughters.
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later that year, he managed the ship's gunnery exercises and procedures while
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before it reached the harbour, Ritchie had to begin his assault with only
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Grave location for holders of the Victoria Cross in the city of Edinburgh
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with the loss of five hundred lives. His Victoria Cross was presented by
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Ten were honoured for their role in the operation, seven receiving
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in the port's entrance channel, with the intention of preventing
202:(29 January 1876 – 9 December 1958) was a recipient of the
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for his actions during a raid on the German colonial harbour of
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How Commander Henry Peel Ritchie Won The V.C. At Dar-es-Salaam
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Memorial pavement slab outside 1 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh
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Memorial outside birthplace, 1 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh.
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After some discussion he was persuaded to disembark so that
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The first naval VC gazetted in the First World War was to
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10:00 the raiders laid explosive charges on the abandoned
656:, and died at his home in 1958. Ritchie was cremated at
282:, docked in the Medway as part of the Reserve squadron.
564:'s crew when they went to his aid in the battleship's
1122:
British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross
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in November 1914, which left him seriously wounded.
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First World War Victoria Cross recipient (1876–1958)
816:"Ritchie, Captain Henry Peel, (1876-9 Dec. 1958) |"
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1036:Symbol of Courage, A History of the Victoria Cross
513:his force when it attempted to leave the harbour.
804:. No. 36811. London. 4 July 1902. p. 8.
764:Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1880-81
571:Two days later, with the wounded hospitalised in
192:1 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh (closest building)
743:for gallantry 15 days later on 13 December 1914.
409:Despite a declaration from the German Governor
604:and one, the grievously wounded Ritchie, the
8:
1142:Royal Navy recipients of the Victoria Cross
1127:People educated at George Watson's College
1117:Graduates of Britannia Royal Naval College
1077:VCs of the First World War - The Naval VCs
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19:For other people named Henry Ritchie, see
1000:(Supplement). 9 April 1915. p. 3549.
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257:before he enrolled on the training ship
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755:, Court Circular, 26 April 1915, p. 9.
242:to Mary Ritchie (née Anderson) and Dr
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800:"Naval & Military intelligence".
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1147:Royal Navy officers of World War I
1059:. Naval & Military Press Ltd.
1016:The Register of the Victoria Cross
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1132:Military personnel from Edinburgh
592:Retirement and the Victoria Cross
448:, to carry his raiding parties.
383:, blockaded in the delta of the
338:At the outbreak of World War I,
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80:Warriston Crematorium, Edinburgh
681:1 Mellville Crescent, Edinburgh
645:in April 1915. Promoted acting
702:Admiralty 10th April 1915
21:Henry Ritchie (disambiguation)
1:
251:George Watson's Boys' College
1019:. This England Books. 1997.
598:Distinguished Service Medals
628:in May 1915 by the Turkish
602:Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
1173:
1074:Snelling, Stephen (2002).
1038:. Sidgwick & Jackson.
981:, Retrieved on 27 May 2007
933:, Retrieved on 27 May 2007
476:Due to a breakdown aboard
18:
69:9 December 1958 (aged 82)
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1152:Scottish naval personnel
977:25 December 2004 at the
350:of the German colony of
741:Norman Douglas Holbrook
694:Victoria Cross citation
1053:Harvey, David (1999).
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121:Years of service
44:Henry Peel Ritchie VC
1056:Monuments to Courage
1034:Arthur, Max (2004).
402:, the hospital ship
285:Whilst stationed at
1157:Royal Navy captains
1137:Royal Navy officers
927:first-world-war.com
342:was ordered to the
244:Robert Peel Ritchie
997:The London Gazette
962:, Stephen Snelling
946:, Stephen Snelling
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898:, Stephen Snelling
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864:, Stephen Snelling
790:, Stephen Snelling
721:The London Gazette
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352:German East Africa
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197:Henry Peel Ritchie
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837:978-0-19-954089-1
820:www.ukwhoswho.com
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1112:1958 deaths
1107:1876 births
992:"No. 29123"
674:Birthplace
626:Dardanelles
321:War service
279:Sans Pareil
156:World War I
1101:Categories
1008:References
843:24 January
600:, two the
553:and light
471:white flag
381:Königsberg
376:Königsberg
346:to lead a
297:battleship
274:battleship
266:lieutenant
115:Royal Navy
86:Allegiance
802:The Times
753:The Times
658:Warriston
630:destroyer
555:artillery
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423:blockship
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367:SMS
330:HMS
307:commander
300:HMS
287:Sheerness
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240:Edinburgh
227:Admiralty
143:HMS
71:Edinburgh
56:Edinburgh
975:Archived
822:. 2007.
634:Muavenet
610:shrapnel
573:Zanzibar
436:gunboats
432:flotilla
419:scuttled
365:such as
363:cruisers
348:blockade
238:Born in
160:Raid on
104:Service/
60:Scotland
647:captain
622:Goliath
577:Goliath
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538:Goliath
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518:Helmuth
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502:Helmuth
495:Helmuth
482:Helmuth
478:Dupleix
445:Helmuth
440:Dupleix
427:Goliath
391:Pegasus
340:Goliath
332:Goliath
311:Goliath
302:Goliath
208:British
164: (
145:Goliath
133:Captain
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1042:
1023:
834:
551:rifles
543:Tabora
511:ambush
467:parley
404:Tabora
270:boxing
177:Awards
106:branch
95:
76:Buried
958:P.5,
942:P.4,
910:P.3,
894:P.2,
876:P.1,
860:P.7,
786:P.6,
728:Notes
487:Konig
396:Konig
369:Emden
1082:ISBN
1061:ISBN
1040:ISBN
1021:ISBN
845:2019
832:ISBN
579:and
536:and
489:and
442:and
398:and
253:and
210:and
139:Unit
129:Rank
66:Died
50:Born
824:doi
660:.
641:at
581:Fox
534:Fox
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167:WIA
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438:,
421:a
200:VC
58:,
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826::
170:)
23:.
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