William Ritchie

William Ritchie (11 March 1882 – 22 May 1940) was a Scotland international rugby union player.

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

He went to St John's College, Cambridge.

Ritchie played for Cambridge University.

Provincial career

He played for Anglo-Scots against South of Scotland District on 26 December 1903, having played the day before for Cambridge University in their match against West of Scotland at Partick.

He played for the Provinces District side against the Cities District side in January 1905, while still with Cambridge University.

International career

He was capped by Scotland twice, in 1905.

Military career

He served in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, in the 40th Reinforcements, New Zealand Field Artillery in the First World War. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM).

Family

Both his father and grandfather were ministers in the Church of Scotland.

His father John Macfarlane Ritchie (1842-1912) was from Orkney. His mother was Ella McLaren (1853-1932) from Glasgow. Both had emigrated to the Scottish expatriate city of Dunedin in New Zealand; and they married there in 1875. They had a number of sons, including William, and one daughter.

Death

William Ritchie died in Bidwill Private Hospital in Timaru. He is buried in Timaru Cemetery.