Maxwell Alexander Christian Ritter

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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.[1][Fact Check] He gained one month's time on passing out.

Ritter was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 January, 1913.[2] 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.[3]

Ritter was appointed in command of the destroyer Laverock on 5 August, 1918.[4]

Post-War

Ritter was appointed in command of the destroyer Mandate on 28 December, 1918.[5]

On 1 September, 1920, he was appointed in command of the destroyer Tormentor.[6]

Ritter was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 January, 1921.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9]

He died at No. 6, Sussex Square, Brighton in Sussex on 20 December, 1964.[10]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Henry E. Horan
Captain of H.M. T.B. 29
13 Jul, 1916[11][12] – 23 Aug, 1917[13]
Succeeded by
Walter C. Battle
Preceded by
Reginald Nash
Captain of H.M.S. Ambuscade
5 Nov, 1917[14] – 21 Jun, 1918[15]
Succeeded by
Humphrey B. Jacomb
Preceded by
Reginald Nash
Captain of H.M.S. Lookout
21 Jun, 1918[16] – 23 Jul, 1918[17]
Succeeded by
John M. Henderson
Preceded by
Henry A. Binmore
Captain of H.M.S. Laverock
5 Aug, 1918[18][19] – 28 Dec, 1918[20]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Kenneth G. Ramsey
Captain of H.M.S. Mandate
28 Dec, 1918[21][22] – 11 Feb, 1919[23]
Succeeded by
Maxwell A. C. Ritter
Preceded by
Arthur H. L. Terry
Captain of H.M.S. Prince
11 Feb, 1919[24][25] – 26 Mar, 1919[26]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Maxwell A. C. Ritter
Captain of H.M.S. Mandate
26 Mar, 1919[27] – 21 Oct, 1919[28]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Sir Andrew B. Cunningham
Captain of H.M.S. Seafire
21 Jun, 1920[29][30] – 1 Sep, 1920[31]
Succeeded by
Joseph Horsfield
Preceded by
Martin J. C. de Meric
Captain of H.M.S. Tormentor
1 Sep, 1920[32][33] – 1 Mar, 1922[34]
Succeeded by
Arthur L. Pears
Preceded by
Geoffrey W. Walker-Jones
Captain of H.M.S. Wishart
Apr, 1922[35][36] – 15 Oct, 1923[37]
Succeeded by
Philip J. Mack

Footnotes

  1. "Cadetships in the Royal Navy." The Times (London, England), Friday, Dec 22, 1905; pg. 10; Issue 37897.
  2. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 95.
  3. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  4. The Navy List. (January, 1919). p. 829.
  5. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 841.
  6. The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 876.
  7. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  8. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  9. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  10. Ancestry.com (pay-to-View), England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966; The London Gazette (14 September 1965), p. 8685.
  11. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  12. The Navy List. (August, 1917). p. 399t.
  13. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  14. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  15. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  16. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  17. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  18. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  19. The Navy List. (January, 1919). p. 829.
  20. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  21. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  22. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 841.
  23. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  24. "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), 11 Feb. 1919, p. 4.
  25. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  26. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  27. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  28. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  29. "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), 18 June 1920, p. 6.
  30. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  31. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  32. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  33. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 876.
  34. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  35. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.
  36. The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 844.
  37. Ritter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/36. f. 36.