Soldier Record

Like most surviviors, my grandad ,commonly known as Pop or Jimmy,rarely ever spoke of his time in WW1.He only told me two things. Firstly he was in a Cavalry regiment the 4th Queen's own Hussars which was the same as his father, John Jenkins Ritchie, but he hated his horse and his horse hated him and tried to bite him at every opportunity! However when it was shot from under him, it rolled on top of him which caused dislocation of his shoulder. This gave him problems all his life but also gave him a 'Blighty' so he returned home in 1915, to continue the war effort working at Woolwich Arsenal.

All he saw of the King was his boots.

The second thing he told me was more poignant. Coming from Dundee he was one of a breed of strong Royalists. He was wounded soon after arriving in France and was transferred to a field hospital. They were told if they were able to walk they were to don full uniform and line up outside. It was December and they were outside for several hours in the rain, waiting for 'an important visitor'. Itwas the King. When at last he arrived he inspected them, and my grandad siad that he was so tired and ill that he could not raise his head and all he saw of the King was his boots.

I wish now I had been a bit older and wiser and that I had asked him more questions. Please ask your relatives about their experiences before it is too late.