Andrew Ritchie (British Army officer)
Encyclopedia
Major-General Andrew Stephenson Ritchie CBE
(born 30 July 1953) is a British
soldier
, formerly Commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst
, now Director of Goodenough College
, London
. His early career was with the Royal Artillery
, and he commanded the 1st Regiment the Royal Horse Artillery
for two years.
David Caldwell Ritchie, by his marriage to Dilys Stephenson, Ritchie was born in 1953 and educated at Harrow County Boys' School
, then at Sandhurst
and the University of Durham.
as a regular officer in 1973, Ritchie saw service in Belize
, Rhodesia
, and West Germany
from 1974 to 1984, then was posted to the Ministry of Defence
in 1986–1987 before joining the 3rd Regiment the Royal Horse Artillery, with which he served in Germany, Cyprus
, and the United Kingdom from 1988 to 1990. He was Director of Army Plans from 1990 to 1992, then commanded the 1st Regiment the Royal Horse Artillery
from 1992 to 1995 and saw service in Bosnia in 1995–1996, before taking a Higher Command and Staff Course in 1997. He was Director of Personal Services (Army) from 1998 to 2000 and was at the Royal College of Defence Studies
in 2001, then was Director of Corporate Communications (Army) in 2001–2002 and General Officer Commanding
the 4th Division
from 2002 to 2003 before taking up his final post as Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from 2003 to 2006. After retiring the service, he was appointed as Director of Goodenough College
, London.
Ritchie has been Honorary Colonel of the 100th (Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Artillery, since 2000, a Trustee of the British Forces Foundation
since 2003, President of the Royal Artillery Hunt, a Member of the Council of Marlborough College
, and a Governor of Princess Helena College
since 2006, and a director of Larkhill Racecourse since 2008.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 30 July 1953) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, formerly Commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, now Director of Goodenough College
Goodenough College
Goodenough College is a postgraduate residence and educational trust on Mecklenburgh Square in Bloomsbury, central London, England. Other names under which the College has been known are London House, William Goodenough House, and the London Goodenough Trust.-Profile:The College is an international...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. His early career was with the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
, and he commanded the 1st Regiment the Royal Horse Artillery
Royal Horse Artillery
The regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
for two years.
Early life
The elder son of CanonCanon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
David Caldwell Ritchie, by his marriage to Dilys Stephenson, Ritchie was born in 1953 and educated at Harrow County Boys' School
Harrow High School
Harrow High School is a state secondary school in the London Borough of Harrow in the north-west of London. The headteacher is Paul Gamble. The school is a specialist Sports College. It is not to be confused with the independent school Harrow School, situated nearby at Harrow on the...
, then at Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
and the University of Durham.
Career
Commissioned the Royal ArtilleryRoyal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
as a regular officer in 1973, Ritchie saw service in Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
, Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
, and West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
from 1974 to 1984, then was posted to the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
in 1986–1987 before joining the 3rd Regiment the Royal Horse Artillery, with which he served in Germany, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, and the United Kingdom from 1988 to 1990. He was Director of Army Plans from 1990 to 1992, then commanded the 1st Regiment the Royal Horse Artillery
Royal Horse Artillery
The regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
from 1992 to 1995 and saw service in Bosnia in 1995–1996, before taking a Higher Command and Staff Course in 1997. He was Director of Personal Services (Army) from 1998 to 2000 and was at the Royal College of Defence Studies
Royal College of Defence Studies
The Royal College of Defence Studies is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom...
in 2001, then was Director of Corporate Communications (Army) in 2001–2002 and General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
the 4th Division
4th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)
The 4th Infantry Division is a regular British Army division with a long history having been present at the Peninsular War the Crimean War , the First World War , and during the Second World War.- Napoleonic Wars :...
from 2002 to 2003 before taking up his final post as Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from 2003 to 2006. After retiring the service, he was appointed as Director of Goodenough College
Goodenough College
Goodenough College is a postgraduate residence and educational trust on Mecklenburgh Square in Bloomsbury, central London, England. Other names under which the College has been known are London House, William Goodenough House, and the London Goodenough Trust.-Profile:The College is an international...
, London.
Ritchie has been Honorary Colonel of the 100th (Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Artillery, since 2000, a Trustee of the British Forces Foundation
British Forces Foundation
The British Forces Foundation is a British Charity, reg no 1075109The foundation was launched in May 1999 by comedian Jim Davidson to support the well being of the members of Britains armed forces though the provision of high quality entertainment....
since 2003, President of the Royal Artillery Hunt, a Member of the Council of Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
, and a Governor of Princess Helena College
Princess Helena College
Princess Helena College is an independent school for girls located in the small village of Preston near Hitchin in Hertfordshire. It is housed in a Grade II* listed Queen Anne country house, which was redesigned by Edwin Lutyens, at the same time as the gardens were designed by his great friend,...
since 2006, and a director of Larkhill Racecourse since 2008.
Honours
- Officer of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
- Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, 1999