3rd Tynemouth

Lt Col William Ritson CMG

Group Sponsor

William Henry Ritson was part of the 3^rd (Volunteer) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers prior to the First World War.

He was later promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and moved to the 6^th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers.

In September 1914, two months after world war one broke out, Lt Col Ritson formed the 16^th (Service) (Newcastle Commercials) Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers at the Newcastle and Gateshead Chamber of Commerce. It was a local battalion known as a pals battalion because men joined together in local recruiting drives, with the promise that they would be able to serve alongside their friends, neighbours and work colleagues, rather than being allocated to regular Army regiments.

The battalion, under the command of Lt Col Ritson, saw a great deal of action in France and Flanders throughout the whole of the war until it was eventually disbanded in February 1918.

Towards the end of the war Lt Col Ritson was sent home from France due to ill health. On leaving the forces, his discharge address is listed as being Springwell hall, Durham. This building is now called St Leonard’s Roman Catholic School, and although I have found this out, I cannot get any confirmation that he, or his family lived at the hall.

During his military career, he was awarded the CMG (Companion to the Order of St. Michael and St. George), part of the same honours system as the MBE, OBE and knighthoods, and the VD (Volunteer Officers’ Decoration), a long service award.

The Ritson family owned a number of collieries in the Durham area. Lt Col Ritson started working for the family company, UA Ritson and Sons. Utrick Alexander Ritson was the chairman, JR Ritson and William Henry Ritson were listed as directors. They also owned Preston Colliery in North Shields, employing just under 1300 people.

Lt Col Ritson’s involvement with the group began when he loaned the 1^st Chirton Scouts the colliery’s ambulance hut to use as a headquarters, as the building they were in, the Chirton chapel, was no longer suitable.

In 1917, as a way of saying thank you, the group’s title was changed to Preston Colliery (Col. Ritson’s Own). In 1923 the colliery began to close down and the Scouts were given the building outright. The Group’s name was again changed, this time to it’s present title of 3^rd Tynemouth (Ritson’s Own).

A letter dated January 1933 describes him as an active commissioner in County Durham. I now believe that he was in fact the first of the new District Commissioner’s appointed in Durham City, a position he held for 10 years. He took over as a “caretaker” County Commissioner for a while until a permanent one was appointed.

It is also claimed by County Durham that he was the first ever person in the County to be awarded the Silver Acorn and that he was present during a visit by Lord Baden-Powell around that time.

Durham County were completely unaware of his involvement with a group in Tynemouth and seemed quite surprised to learn about it.

(Ritsons Own) Scout Group

Billy Mill Lane, North Shields, NE29 8LP

Lt Col William Ritson CMG

Group Sponsor