Alan MacDougall Ritchie
Brigadier Alan MacDougall Ritchie, was an officer in the British Army during the First and the Second World Wars.
Military career
Ritchie was educated at Highgate School and attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, from where he graduated in September 1912.During the First World War he was a captain in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Greek Order of the Redeemer.
Ritchie was appointed commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, Royal Scots from 1918 to 1919 and of the 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1937. He was awarded a Distinguished Service Order for service in Palestine in 1939, and became commander of the 26th (East Africa) Infantry Brigade and the 21st (East Africa) Infantry Brigade in the King's African Rifles during the East African Campaign. As commander of the 21st Brigade, Ritchie was detached to 1st South African Division from 27 February until 6 April and, thereafter, to the 12th African Division.
His younger brother, Neil, also served in the Army and rose to command Eighth Army in the North African Campaign.