9334 (3317) General Sir Neil Methuen RITCHIE, GBE, KCB, DSO, MC, MiD****, KStJ

Discussion in 'Higher Formations' started by dbf, Jan 25, 2022.

  1. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    I've always been surprised that no full-length biography of Ritchie has been written. Perhaps the documentary material has not survived—or the family are not interested, both of which would be a shame.

    Tangentially, I've always been curious about Cunningham with his family connection and supposed breakdown, but he seems to be an even more obscure figure today.
     
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  2. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    Cunningham's papers are in the NAM. They are... interesting to read. He didn't go quietly and he fought his corner in the official history.

    Ritchie's papers are not deposited anywhere I think.

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  3. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake All over the place....

    Not really. Alan Brooke liked Ritchie, but did not think he had the experience to command Eighth Army at that time. He had never commanded a brigade, and his formation command experience was eight months as GOC 51st Highland Division in the UK.

    Brooke's remarks remind me of one of the questions in an officer's confidential report.
    "Is this man ready for promotion?" I interpret Brooke's comments as "Not Yet", which is not the same as "No"
     
  4. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I had been thinking before Rommel's attack. I agree with you though. He might very well not have wanted to resign after Gazala so that it wouldn't define his performance in that position.
     
  5. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    We maybe thinking of different Gazalas.

    After the Axis retreated into the Marada - Mersa el Brega position, and de Giorgis surrendered Halfaya, Ritchie had won. They were planning for the next step, picking up the offensive again in mid-February 1942. No reason to go.

    After Rommel kicked the Allied troops out of Cyrenaica again the following week, going would have been an admission of failure.

    All the best

    Andreas
     
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  6. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    I didn’t interpret Brooke’s comments, I read them. It’s clear he didn’t think Ritchie was up to the job and said so in his diary (and before Gazala).
     
    Chris C likes this.
  7. Don Juan

    Don Juan Well-Known Member

    When Ritchie became the BGS of II Corps in December 1939, does anybody know who he replaced?
     
    Andreas likes this.
  8. Don Juan

    Don Juan Well-Known Member

    Fucking hell it was Vyvyan Pope!
     
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