Canada, CEF. A First War Pair to Lt. Ritchie; 2nd Battalion CEF

British War Medal (LIEUT. A. RITCHIE.) and Victory Medal (LIEUT. A. RITCHIE.). Naming is officially impressed. Very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Attestation Paper, Service Records and Medical Records.    

Footnote: Albert Ritchie was born January 1895 in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland. He signed three Attestation Papers, all listing his next-of-kin as his brother, David. The first is dated November 11, 1914, stating his birthdate as the 22nd, that he was not married, that he had two months with the 14th Regiment and four years previous service with the Imperial (Royal) Navy and that his trade was that of Cook; the second is dated May 4, 1915, stating his birthdate as the 2nd, that he was not married, that he had four years previous service with the Royal Navy and that his trade was that of Steward, while the third is listed as "May" but is undated, stating his birthdate as the 2nd, that he was not married, that he had four years previous service with the Royal Navy and that his trade was that of Steward. The first two are listed on the Collections Canada and do not have paperwork submitted here, while the third is not listed on the website but has paperwork submiited with his medals. He enlisted with the 21st Battalion, which was raised in Eastern Ontario and mobilized in Kingston, Ontario under the authority of G.O. 36, March 15, 1915. The Battalion sailed May 4, 1915 from Montreal aboard S.S. Metagawa, with a strength of 42 officers and 1,057 other ranks under the command of Lieuteant-Colonel W. St. P. Hughes, arriving in England on the 15th, with Ritchie making his way to France on September 14. By February 12, 1916, he was appointed L/Cpl without pay while employed as an orderly at Canadian Base Depot. He was attached to the 39th Battalion at Le Havre, France on December 1, 1916, then to the 16th Battalion on January 1, 1917. Ritchie had issues with his sight in 1917. On April 27, he was diagnosed with ametropia (or refractive error in the focusing of light by the eye and a frequent reason for reduced visual acuity) and on May 2, with high myopia (nearsightedness). By the fall, he was attached to the 21st Battalion pending transfer, on October 8, 1917. One year later, on September 25, 1918, he was attached to the 2nd Battalion in the field. Ritchie retired in the British Isles, August 1, 1919.