George Stephen Ritchie
Encyclopedia
George Stephen Ritchie CB DSC (born 1914) is a former British
admiral
noted for his cartographic
and hydrographic
work.
, 1914, of Scottish parents, Sir Douglas Ritchie and Lady Margaret Stephen Ritchie. He was educated at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth from the age of 13, from where he went to sea at the age of 17. In 1936 he joined the Surveying Service, being appointed to the old coal-burning surveying ship, , operating in the South China Sea
.
During the Second World War the then Liutenant
Ritchie was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
(DSC) for bravery whilst surveying beaches in North Africa behind the enemy lines.
From that time he worked continuously in that branch of the Royal Navy
travelling all over the World and commanding four of HM surveying Ships: on a world circling voyage with scientists on board; HMNZS Lachlan, the New Zealand
survey ship; , in the Persian Gulf
and in the West Indies and North Atlantic. In 1951 on the survey ship HMS Challenger
, recorded the deepest part of the ocean trench depth Challenger Deep
of 5,960 fathom
s (10,900 m, 35,761 ft) using echo sounding
.
In 1966 he was promoted to the position of Rear Admiral
and appointed to the post of Hydrographer of the Navy
which he held for five years, responsible for the operations of the RN Surveying Squadron and the publication of the Admiralty Chart
world-wide series. In 1967 he received a Companion of the Bath.
Admiral Ritchie has received the Founder’s Medal of the Royal Geographical Society
, the Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of Navigation
, the Silver Medal of the Royal Society of Arts
and the Prix Manley-Bendall from the Academie de Marine
. He is an honorary member of the Challenger Society for Marine Science
and an Emeritus Member of the Hydrographic Society.
Since his return from Monaco he has lived with his wife, Disa, in the family house built by his grandfather in the fishing village of Collieston
, Aberdeenshire
. He has published other titles including Challenger - The Life of a Survey Ship (1957), The Admiralty Chart (1967), No Day too Long (1992) and As it Was(2003). He wrote a regular column describing how hydrography
used to be, for the international publication Hydro International from 1985–1995.
In 2009 he donated his collection on the history of hydrography to the Robinson Library at Newcastle University.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
noted for his cartographic
Cartography
Cartography is the study and practice of making maps. Combining science, aesthetics, and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality can be modeled in ways that communicate spatial information effectively.The fundamental problems of traditional cartography are to:*Set the map's...
and hydrographic
Hydrography
Hydrography is the measurement of the depths, the tides and currents of a body of water and establishment of the sea, river or lake bed topography and morphology. Normally and historically for the purpose of charting a body of water for the safe navigation of shipping...
work.
Naval career
Ritchie was born in BurnleyBurnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
, 1914, of Scottish parents, Sir Douglas Ritchie and Lady Margaret Stephen Ritchie. He was educated at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth from the age of 13, from where he went to sea at the age of 17. In 1936 he joined the Surveying Service, being appointed to the old coal-burning surveying ship, , operating in the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
.
During the Second World War the then Liutenant
Lieutenant (naval)
LieutenantThe pronunciation of lieutenant is generally split between or , generally in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries, and or , generally associated with the United States. See lieutenant. is a commissioned officer rank in many nations' navies...
Ritchie was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
(DSC) for bravery whilst surveying beaches in North Africa behind the enemy lines.
From that time he worked continuously in that branch of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
travelling all over the World and commanding four of HM surveying Ships: on a world circling voyage with scientists on board; HMNZS Lachlan, the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
survey ship; , in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
and in the West Indies and North Atlantic. In 1951 on the survey ship HMS Challenger
HMS Challenger (1931)
HMS Challenger was a survey ship of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. She was laid down in 1930 at Chatham Dockyard and built in a dry dock. After that, the ship was moved to Portsmouth for completion and commissioned on 15 March 1932.-Service history:...
, recorded the deepest part of the ocean trench depth Challenger Deep
Challenger Deep
The Challenger Deep is the deepest known point in the oceans, with a depth of to by direct measurement from submersibles, and slightly more by sonar bathymetry . It is located at the southern end of the Mariana Trench near the Mariana Islands group...
of 5,960 fathom
Fathom
A fathom is a unit of length in the imperial and the U.S. customary systems, used especially for measuring the depth of water.There are 2 yards in an imperial or U.S. fathom...
s (10,900 m, 35,761 ft) using echo sounding
Echo sounding
Echo sounding is the technique of using sound pulses directed from the surface or from a submarine vertically down to measure the distance to the bottom by means of sound waves. This information is then typically used for navigation purposes or in order to obtain depths for charting purposes...
.
In 1966 he was promoted to the position of Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
and appointed to the post of Hydrographer of the Navy
Hydrographer of the Navy
Hydrographer of the Navy is a Royal Naval appointment. From 1795 until 2001 the post was responsible for the production of charts for the Royal Navy, and around this post grew the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office...
which he held for five years, responsible for the operations of the RN Surveying Squadron and the publication of the Admiralty Chart
Admiralty chart
Admiralty charts are nautical charts issued by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office and subject to Crown Copyright. Over 3,000 charts are available and cover virtually the entire world in various levels of detail depending on the density of traffic and hazards...
world-wide series. In 1967 he received a Companion of the Bath.
Post naval career
After 18 months as a Senior Research Fellow at Southampton University he was elected first in 1972 and again in 1977 as President of the International Hydrographic Bureau, thus spending 10 years in the Principality of Monaco, service the 50 member states of the International Hydrographic Organisation.Admiral Ritchie has received the Founder’s Medal of the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
, the Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of Navigation
Royal Institute of Navigation
The Royal Institute of Navigation is a British institution devoted to the art and science of navigation established in 1947.Its aims are to bring navigators together, to develop navigational techniques and to increase public awareness of navigation. It is based in Kensington, London. It was...
, the Silver Medal of the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
and the Prix Manley-Bendall from the Academie de Marine
Académie de Marine
The Royal Naval Academy of France was founded at Brest by a ruling of 31 July 1752 by Antoine Louis de Rouillé, comte de Jouy, Secretary of State for the Navy...
. He is an honorary member of the Challenger Society for Marine Science
Challenger Society for Marine Science
The Challenger Society for Marine Science is a learned society established in 1903 in the United Kingdom around the interdisciplinary subject of marine science...
and an Emeritus Member of the Hydrographic Society.
Since his return from Monaco he has lived with his wife, Disa, in the family house built by his grandfather in the fishing village of Collieston
Collieston
Collieston is a small former fishing village on the North Sea coast in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The village lies just north of the Sands of Forvie Special Protection Area, between Cruden Bay and Newburgh.-History:...
, Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
. He has published other titles including Challenger - The Life of a Survey Ship (1957), The Admiralty Chart (1967), No Day too Long (1992) and As it Was(2003). He wrote a regular column describing how hydrography
Hydrography
Hydrography is the measurement of the depths, the tides and currents of a body of water and establishment of the sea, river or lake bed topography and morphology. Normally and historically for the purpose of charting a body of water for the safe navigation of shipping...
used to be, for the international publication Hydro International from 1985–1995.
In 2009 he donated his collection on the history of hydrography to the Robinson Library at Newcastle University.
External links
- Boesjes, Johan et al. (October 2004) "Steve Ritchie - A Living Legend" Hydro International 8(8):