Archibald William Ritchie was born in Leigh Creek, VIC and was a Butcher by trade when he enlisted from Ballarat in the 39th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement on 7 June 1916 at the age of 18. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A17 Port Lincoln on 20 October 1916 and disembarked at Plymouth in January 1917. In April 1917 he joined the 39th Battalion in France. Illness forced him to hospital in July but he rejoined his unit in September. He was wounded in action on October 4th when he suffered a severe gunshot wound which fractured his right leg. As a consequence he was returned to Australia on the Kanowna and disembarked at Melbourne on February 13th 1918. He was discharged as æmedically unfit' soon after.
Tree No. 2434