Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War Loos salient M.C. group of three awarded to Captain J. Ritty, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who was killed in action on the Somme on 9 September 1916

Military Cross, G.V.R., in its case of issue; British War and Victory Medals (Capt.), with related Memorial Plaque (John Ritty), extremely fine (4) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Great War Casualties formed by Tim Parsons.

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M.C. London Gazette 24 June 1916:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and skilful handling of his men in action under difficult circumstances. He was also noted previously for good service during an intense bombardment by the enemy.’

The following obituary notice appeared in the Sligo Independent on 7 October 1916:

‘Captain J. Ritty, Inniskilling Fusiliers, who was reported missing on the 9th ult., is now reported by the War Office as killed in action on that date. Captain Ritty, who is the son of Lieutenant John Ritty, R.N., Lloyd’s Agent, and Mrs. Ritty, Harbour View, Sligo, was 22 years of age. He was educated at King’s College, London and Rosses College, Dublin and at the outbreak of war he volunteered and was given a commission in the 7th Inniskilling Fusiliers in September 1914. After spending a short time at the O.T.C., Belfast he joined his regiment at Tipperary, and was promoted Lieutenant in January 1915 and Captain in August of the same year. He subsequently underwent further training at Finner Camp, Woking and Borden in England, and left with his regiment for France in February of this year [1916]. Here he took part in several battles in which he distinguished himself. He was mentioned in despatches in March and was the recipient of two certificates and the Military Cross for bravery in the Field. In April he was badly gassed and after being home on sick leave in May and June, refused light duty and rejoined his regiment in France in July. He took part in the capture of Guillemont and a number of other severe engagements and was killed at Ginchy on the date above mentioned. His Colonel, who was also wounded, writing to his parents, said:

“I had learned to fully appreciate his sterling value as a soldier and a leader of men. On every occasion he has shown the fine metal he was made of, last March then in April and finally on the Somme. His loss is not only yours but that of everyone in the Battalion, whose name he had so splendidly helped to make. Captain Ritty was a typical Englishman, who neither thought of Ireland other than its honour and how he upheld it in an Irish Regiment speaks for itself. Should this not be a lesson to bind the two countries as one to down the enemy.”

The news of the death of this gallant officer was received throughout Sligo and the district on Wednesday with feelings of profound regret, and the utmost sympathy is felt by all classes for the deceased’s parents. “Jack”, as he was familiarly known among his friends, has paid the supreme sacrifice ...’

Reference to both of the above mentioned commendation certificates maybe found in the Battalion’s war diary during the period of its time in the Loos salient. In the entry for 13 April 1916 it is reported that “Certificates of Merit for Service in the Field” were distributed by Brigadier-General R. Leveson-Gower, G.O.C., 49th Infantry Brigade, for ‘bravery and coolness under fire on the afternoon of 6 April.’ Ritty appears in the subsequent list of those to be honoured; and, in the entry for 28 May, he again appears in a list of similarly honoured men for bravery in enemy attacks on the 27 and 29 April at Hulluch - in Ritty’s case the reward would have been for the 27th, the day that he was badly gassed (‘Under cover of a second denser gas than in the first attack and aided by a strong artillery barrage, the Germans again attacked and managed to effect a lodgement ...’).

His M.C. was presented to his father by Lieutenant-General Sir Bryan Mahon, the C.-in-C. Ireland, at Ebrington Barracks on 12 May 1917.

Ritty is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial; photographs of the relevant panel are included.

Also sold with an original copy of Our Heroes, a supplement to the Irish Life of 28 July 1916, which includes a portrait photograph of Ritty, and The Book of the 7th [S.] Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, by G. A. C. Walker (Dublin, circa 1920), in which his gallant deeds are referred to on several occasions; together with newspaper obituary cutting from the Sligo Independent of 7 October 1916, and M.C. citation and issuance slip, presumably as given to the recipient’s father at Ebrington Barracks in May 1917.