Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Battle of Britain group of three awarded to Flying Officer T. G. F. Ritchie, No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron, Royal Air Force, a Spitfire pilot who was wounded in combat in September 1940, before being shot down and killed in action with Bf 109s over France in July 1941
1939-45 Star, clasp Battle of Britain (the clasp displayed over the following star); Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal, all unnamed as issued, mounted in a contemporary blue leather display frame by Asprey, London, with R.A.F. badge above and naming details gilt-embossed below ‘Flight Lieutenant Glyn F. Ritchie/Glasgow 602 Fighter Squadron’; together with an embroidered squadron badge mounted in a contemporary frame, the mount inscribed with name ‘Thomas Glyn Ritchie’, an attractive contemporary display to a Battle of Britain Spitfire Pilot, extremely fine (3) £2000-3000

Thomas Glyn Finlayson Ritchie joined the R.A.F.V.R. in about July 1937, as an airman u/t pilot (740515). He completed his training and was commissioned in March 1939. Called to full-time service at the outbreak of war, he joined 602 Squadron at Abbotsinch in September 1939. On 13 August 1940, the squadron moved to Westhampnett airfield in West Sussex, and on 19 August Ritchie shared in destroying a Ju 88. On the 23rd he returned to Westhampnett with damage caused by colliding with another R.A.F. fighter in cloud. Ritchie claimed a Bf 110 destroyed on 25 August and on 6 September he was wounded in both legs in combat with Bf 109s over Hailsham and was admitted to Chichester Hospital. In March 1941 Ritchie was commanding ‘A’ Flight. On 21 July the squadron escorted three Stirlings to attack a target at Lille. On the way in they were jumped by Bf109s and Ritchie was shot down and killed. He is buried in Reninghelst churchyard extension, Belgium.