Maxwell Alexander Christian Ritter

Lieutenant-Commander Maxwell Alexander Christian Ritter, R.N., (14 September, 1890 – 20 December, 1964) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

His service record shows that his tact impressed his earlier superiors, but by war's end, he was deemed "unnecessarily slow". In the post-war navy, his evaluations are rife with measuredly negative comment.

Life & Career

Ritter was the son of a barrister. Although his service record states that he was part of the January, 1906 term at Britannia, he likely entered Royal Naval College, Dartmouth directly – part of the Royal Navy's transition from training new cadets in H.M.S. Britannia as the new scheme was being primed.^{[Fact Check]} He gained one month's time on passing out.

Ritter was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 January, 1913. When war broke out, he was in Endeavour, providing navigational help. On 4 April, 1916, he was appointed to join the monitor M.17. He remained with her only briefly before being sent to join Beagle in late June and then being appointed in command of T.B. 29 on 13 July.

Ritter was appointed in command of the destroyer Laverock on 5 August, 1918.

Post-War

Ritter was appointed in command of the destroyer Mandate on 28 December, 1918.

On 1 September, 1920, he was appointed in command of the destroyer Tormentor.

Ritter was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 January, 1921.

On 11 October 1923, it was reported that the Senior Officer, Destroyers in the Mediterranean was having Ritter sent home overland after being relieved in command of Wishart following three month's excessive wine bills. He went on half pay for a time and then was appointed to Royal Oak, in which the commanding officer was given instructions regarding Ritter's drinking. Quarterly reports on him were asked for, and then terminated and subsequently resumed in February, 1926. He joined Cyclops and received two good quarterly reports, but it was decided that he should receive no further employment in light of his past problems and the competitive nature of the naval officer job market. In July of 1926 he left Cyclops and went on half pay.

Ritter was placed on the Retired List owing to non-service on 17 July, 1929. In 1949, he was granted permission to reside in Australia.

He died at No. 6, Sussex Square, Brighton in Sussex on 20 December, 1964.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Henry E. Horan	Captain of H.M. T.B. 29 13 Jul, 1916 – 23 Aug, 1917	Succeeded by Walter C. Battle
Preceded by Reginald Nash	Captain of H.M.S. Ambuscade 5 Nov, 1917 – 21 Jun, 1918	Succeeded by Humphrey B. Jacomb
Preceded by Reginald Nash	Captain of H.M.S. Lookout 21 Jun, 1918 – 23 Jul, 1918	Succeeded by John M. Henderson
Preceded by Henry A. Binmore	Captain of H.M.S. Laverock 5 Aug, 1918 – 28 Dec, 1918	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Kenneth G. Ramsey	Captain of H.M.S. Mandate 28 Dec, 1918 – 11 Feb, 1919	Succeeded by Maxwell A. C. Ritter
Preceded by Arthur H. L. Terry	Captain of H.M.S. Prince 11 Feb, 1919 – 26 Mar, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Maxwell A. C. Ritter	Captain of H.M.S. Mandate 26 Mar, 1919 – 21 Oct, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Sir Andrew B. Cunningham	Captain of H.M.S. Seafire 21 Jun, 1920 – 1 Sep, 1920	Succeeded by Joseph Horsfield
Preceded by Martin J. C. de Meric	Captain of H.M.S. Tormentor 1 Sep, 1920 – 1 Mar, 1922	Succeeded by Arthur L. Pears
Preceded by Geoffrey W. Walker-Jones	Captain of H.M.S. Wishart Apr, 1922 – 15 Oct, 1923	Succeeded by Philip J. Mack