Roll of Honour

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1. Hi,

   I assume you will probably have all this information but for your interest this was used during the Remembrance Day service at All Saints Church Glencarse . The majority of the congregation then went to the War Memorial at Kinfauns where Private Ritchie is remembered.

   All the Best.

   Peter

   Private William Ritchie, 6th Battalion Black Watch was the son of William Ritchie, a salmon netter, and Kate Ritchie who lived at Kirkstyle, Kinfauns. The 6th Black Watch took part in the taking of the village of Beaumont Hamel. The village was supposed to have been taken on 1st July 1916 (the first day of the Battle of the Somme)

   but the assault failed with heavy losses. The Somme campaign continued until November with some gains being made but the line at Beaumont Hamel had remained static. It was decided towards the end of the campaign that there was to be a final push to take Beaumont Hamel and the ground beyond. At 5.45am on 13th November the 6th went over the top in extremely difficult conditions – aside from the German defences, the

   ground was sodden and in many places it was necessary to wade, thigh deep at times, through deep clay mud. The Battalion, consisting of mainly Perthshire men, was decimated. William is buried in Hunter’s cemetery which is the site of a shell hole. After the war it was decided not to disturb the dead and their names are commemorated on the wall that was built to surround the site. Private William Ritchie was 19 years old.

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