Capt Magnus Ritch

Service Record

From

To

Born

Stromness

Orkney

1877

Master’s

Certificate

Glasgow

1904

King David

Master

6/1905


King Gruffyd

Master

11/1905

1906

Don Benito

Master

5/1906

1916

Boldwell

Master

1/1917

5/1917

Torpedoed & Sunk

Lord Byron

Master

8/1917


Princess Dagmar

Master

10/1917


War Cariboo

Master

6/1919


Javary

Master

8/1919


King Edward

Master

5/1921


King David

Master

10/1923


King Alfred

Master

8/1924


King Edward

Master

11/1925


King James

Master

4/1927


Cape Corso

Master

4/1934

1939

In his retirement he was a benign old gentleman but he had a reputation as a tough guy in his seagoing time.   He was noted for heavy drinking too, but the company tolerated that for he was a good skipper and looked after their interests better than most.

Captain John Allan sailed with Magnus for a time and he related what he called “The Hooghly Incident.”      

 “At that time the Hooghly pilots had a reputation for being snobs and very pompous, arriving on board complete with manservant in tow.   It is not known what the pilot said to Magnus on this occasion but it must have been offensive for he did not grace him with a reply.   He just raised his fist and floored him.   Now, that was a sacking offence but Magnus kept his job.   I think the pilot must have been too embarrassed to report the incident.”

Captain George Smith recalled an occasion when two sailors appeared at Magnus' cabin door to complain about the food.  

 “I heard raised voices and a scuffle before he laid them both out cold and instructed me to drag them back to their quarters.”

Captain Magnus Ritch was youngest of three brothers who were masters in the King Line in the early twentieth century.   

They had all started their careers before the mast in sail.  Magnus was master of Don Benito from 1906 to 1916, running regularly to the River Plate.   

In 1917 he survived the loss of the Boldwell when she was torpedoed in the Med. by UC-20.

Memories of Capt Ritch

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