Person

John Anthony Sydney Ritson, the son of William Morley Punshon and Eleanor Heppel Ritson, was born in Pelton, Chester-le-Street, Durham on 18 August 1887. He had a brother and two sisters and was educated at Uppingham School, Rutland and Armstrong College, Durham University, where he was awarded a BSc with a distinction in mining and surveying. On 31 March 1906 he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the 4th (Volunteer) Battalion Durham Light Infantry and was promoted to lieutenant on 10 October 1906. In 1908 the battalion was re-numbered as the 8th Battalion and in January 1912 John was promoted to captain.

John was a keen rugby player and represented his country on many occasions between 1908 and 1913, as well as playing for the Barbarians and the fore-runner of the British Lions. He served an apprenticeship under the guidance of his uncle, John KIrkup, at collieries in Burnhope and Preston. Later in 1912 he gained a First Class Certificate of Competency as Manager of a Mine. The following year he took on the post of Junior Mines Inspector in Scotland, being personal assistant to Sir William Walker until the outbreak of the First World War.

On 19 December 1914 John joined the regiment and on 17 April 1915 landed in France. He was promoted to temporary major in October and later won the Military Cross (MC) and was mentioned in despatches. In April 1917 he was promoted to temporary lieutenant-colonel and on 18 April was given command of the 12th Battalion Royal Scots Regiment. In October 1917 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and mentioned in despatches again. On 22 July 1918 he was put in command of the 116th Training Reserve Battalion and, a week later, was awarded the Bar to his DSO.

After the war he returned to Scotland and carried on as an Inspector of Mines. In 1920 John married Winifred Amy Dickson in Ireland. In 1921 he was transferred to South Wales and promoted to Senior Inspector. In March 1923 he was awarded the Territorial Decoration and in June his son, Thomas Tulloch, was born. Later he took up a position as Professor of Mining at Leeds University. In October 1923 he was transferred to the Territorial Army Reserve as lieutenant-colonel. In 1927 was given command of the Leeds University Officer Training Corps. He was made an Officer of the British Empire in the 1935 Birthday Honours list and, in 1936, he accepted a position as Professor of Mines at the Royal School of Mines, part of Imperial College, London. Due to his inexperience in hard rock metalliferous mining, he had to spend time in South Africa studying Gold and Copper mining before taking up the post. He continued as Emeritus Professor until he retired in 1952, having relinquished his commission in March 1949 while retaining the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In 1955 he was made a fellow of Imperial College in recognition of his work.

John Anthony Sydney Ritson died on 16 October 1957, having been dogged by ill health, due to an injury sustained during his war service.

The award of the DSO was gazetted on 27 October 1918 and the citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the attack was held up by machine-gun fire he went forward to reconnoitre, re-organised the attack, and led it forward successfully. His initiative and gallantry saved what might have been a serious situation”.

The award of the Bar to the DSO was gazetted on 26 July 1918 and the citation reads:

” For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in command of his battalion in a series of rearguard actions lasting for several days. During this period he displayed exceptional courage and judgement in a series of withdrawals to fresh positions and repelling attacks causing many casualties. He held on to his last position, repelling all attacks with severe enemy loses until ordered to withdraw, which he succeeded in doing under exceptional difficulties and heavy fire”.

Civil Parish: Pelton

Birth date: 18-Aug-1887

Death date: 16-Oct-1957

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Pelton House, Pelton, Durham (1891 census)
Amhurst Road, Bexhill, Sussex (1901 census)
Bridge End House, Hexham, Northumberland (1911 census)
Rigton Croft, Barkston Ash, West Yorkshire (West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1934)
Imperial College Hostel, Prince Consort Road, Westminster, London (1939 Register)
3 The Chase, Carshalton, Surrey (Surrey, England, Electoral Registers, 1945)
Wykeham Park House, Frimley Green, Aldershot, Hampshire (England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1958)

Education: Uppingham School, Rutland
Armstrong College, Durham University

Organisation membership: Institute of Mining Engineers (Mining Institute of Scotland, 1919-20; Midland Institute of Mining, Civil, and Mechanical Engineers (1935-6)
B.Sc
First Class Certificate of Competency as Manager of a Mine

Employment: Junior Inspector of Mines, Scotland
Senior Inspector of Mines, South Wales
Professor of Mining, Leeds University
Professor of Mines. Royal School of Mines, Imperial College, London

Family: Father: William Morley Punshon Ritson
Mother: Eleanor Heppell Ritson (nee Kirkup)
Siblings: Vincent, Henry Edmundo, Eleanor Maud Frieda & Nora Mary Morley Ritson
Wife: Winifred Amy Ritson (nee Dickson)
Son: Thomas Tulloch Ritson

Military service:

4th & 8th Battalions Durham Light Infantry
Lieutenant-Colonel

Medal(s): Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order & Bar
Military Cross
Mentioned in Despatches (4)
1914-1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal

Gender: Male

Contributed by John Edwards