Description
Mercantile Marine War Medal, David Watson Ritchie, a very young Scottish Sailor from Aberdeern, born in July 1902, barely 16 when the war ended.
Officially impressed: “David W. Ritchie”
Confirmed on the medal rolls, a unique name.
David Watson Ritchie, was born in Aberdeen on 23rd July 1902.
Since the age of 5 he was educated in Aberdeen at Walker Road School, from 13th August 1907 until 30th June 1916, when he turned about 14.
During this time he lived at 159 Victoria Road, the son of Andrew Ritchie.
It looks like around this time which was in the midst of the Great War that he signed on with the Merchant Navy who took on Boys, who were around 14-16 years old like the Royal Navy.
David was remarkably young to have seen service in World War 1, being only 12 years old when the war began and only a few months past 16 years old by the end of the war, his services with the Merchant Navy allowed him the unusual opportunity to see legitimate service without lying about his age.
He continued on with the Merchant Navy after the war serving through from at least 1919 until around 1925 when he was discharged.
With copies of his Merchant Navy record cards including his official photograph taken as a young man circa 1918.
