Alan MacDougall Ritchie

Alan MacDougall Ritchie OBE (25 June 1893 – 30 April 1964) was an officer in the British Army during the First and the Second World Wars.

Ritchie was educated at Highgate School and attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. During the Great War he was a Captain in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was mentioned in dispatches and was awarded the Order of the Redeemer.[1]

He was appointed commanding officer of the 1st Royal Scots from 1918-1919 and of the 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1937.[1] He won a DSO for service in Palestine during the in 1939[2] and became a brigade 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 (East Africa) Brigade (11th African Division), Ritchie was detached to 1st South African Division from 27 February until 6 April and, thereafter, to the 12th African Division. In later life he was Assistant Commissioner in Chief of the St John Ambulance Brigade from 1950 to 1957 and was awarded an OBE in the 1958 Birthday Honours.[3]