Lewis Anselmo Ritchie
Captain (S) SIR Lewis Anselmo Ritchie, K.C.V.O., C.B.E., R.N. (29 April, 1886 – 7 February, 1967) served in the Royal Navy and later as the first Press Secretary to King George V. Under the pen-name "Bartimeus" he wrote many books about the Navy.
Life & Career
Born Lewis Anselmo da Costa Ricci, he entered the Royal Navy in 1901.
He served most of a year in Empress of India on passing out of Britannia in January, 1903. He was appointed next to Albemarle on 12 November, 1903 but was invalided on 10 August, 1904 and was sent home in the P. & O. liner Somali. He arrived at Plymouth Hospital and was declared unfit with Mediterranean Fever.
His vision was eventually impaired and on 9 September he was allowed to transfer from the Executive Branch to transfer for an Assistant Clerkship in the Accountant Branch, this being approved on 27 March, 1905.
Da Costa Ricci was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 2 October, 1906.
He passed for Paymaster on 29 April, 1907.
Passed for Paymaster Lieutenant-Commander on 29 April, 1917.
Da Costa Ricci was well-known for writing of the naval life under the pen name of "Bartimeus".[1]
In 1941 he Anglicised his surname to Ritchie by deed poll.
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ "Naval And Military." The Times (London, England), Tuesday, Oct 26, 1926; pg. 11; Issue 4441.
Bibliography
- "Sir L. Ritchie" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 9 February, 1967. Issue 56861, col F, p. 12.
