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GENERAL SIR NEIL RITCHIE, GBE, KCB, DSO, MC Area Resident Recalls Top World Figures wondered if our concept of the commonwealth had failed. He suggested that the emerging nations, especially in Africa, were all too prepared to take everything and too few, with the exception of Malasia, had given anything. He said he wondered if it might not be far more effec- tive if only the original mem- bers remained equal partners in By PETER 0OOMEN of the Oshawa Times Staff At his 100-year-old fieldstone home in Pickering Township, Sir Neil Ritchie said that after having a broad look at the world he decided to settle in Canada 14 years ago. Since that time General Ritchie has become a Canadian citizen, and, during a visit to his home, reminisced about his past as a British Army General|/the commonwealth. oe a, mn 8 WITEDRAWAL DIFFICULT At the age of 69, Sir Neil re Sir Nell said the timing of mains an aristocrat of the old|the withdrawal of colonizing world 'and recalls his associa-;nations was a most difficult tions with historic figures like|task. He said this choice could Jan Smuts, Field Marshalijnever be satisfactorily recon- Montgomery and Viscount Alex-|ciled between the colonial host ander. and the emerging new nation. In the privacy of his den,|In most instances, he stated, the laden with mementos of bettlo| simerging nations has not campaigns and furnished with) reached the state of develop- Asian antiques General Ritchie| ment where Western democracy races who were to be feared after the war." He said Smuts, past South African Prime Minister and member of the Lloyd George War Cabinet, had a "steadying effect on Winston Churchill," he said; 'Churchill tried to get Smuts view on every big deci- sion he made during the war." He said that the late Smuts was a great international statesman. GREAT TEAM Commenting on his associa- tion with Field Marshall Vis- count Montgomery he said: "Monty was the finest tactical commander Britain has pro- duced for a long time."" He said Viscount Alexander was per- haps the greatest strategist and that together they formed a 'great team. Sir Neil also said German Field Marshall Rommel was a remembered the campaigns of|is very suitable for them. the second world war. He agreed that the majority] }of the new nations had _ pros-| COMMANDERS |pered but most of them were) "Most of the commanders in/under some form of dictator-| the Second World War had been|ship. Fortunately, he added, | through the First War and had| most have been a benevolent! received experience in modern/ dictatorship. | warfare at a lower level and great tactical commander but said the famed "desert fox" outran his communications. 'If he had been a great strategist he would never have fought El Allemein." Speaking of today's army, Sir Reminiscing about his serv-|Neil said he doubted he would had benefitted from their eX-| ice in northern India, Sir Neil|join under the conditions today. perience," said Sir Neil. |said he was stationed in the He said he believed the army He contributed much of the! potential trouble area covering|would become a policing force success of the war to: "The|Pakistan and the Khyber Pass immense firing power and the/ from 1933 to °37. terrific concentration of artil-| He told of the "Pathans," the lery fire that the allies were | troublesome hill people who} able to pinpoint on one spotieyen then made passage apart from the terrific contri-\through the pass dangerous. bution made by sea and air|He said the Pathans lived his-| power. torically on plunder and it was) 'As the war progressed, Un-|qduring those years that they derstanding between the fight-\were stopped through the ex-|metropolitan centres and com-|Orange Nassau, services of each other'sitension of communications and| muting in. He said he bought|Order of Merit |his home in 1964 after living in|Grace, Order of St. John of problems steadily increased and| the airforce in particular con-| tributed directly to the success) of the land battles. This factor was of inestimable value to the soldiers." TWO MISTAKES "The Germans made two large mistakes," continued Gen-| eral Ritchie," they fought on) the wrong banks of the Seine) and Rhine rivers allowing the Allies to cut the bridges behind them." General Ritchie also at- tributed the defeat of Hitler's Germany on the Fuehrer him- self. He said the German method of command, with Hitler interfering in army manoeuvres gt the top level created an impossible situation, He said that in his almost 40 years in the army he had never) witnessed such wholesale) slaughter as occurred when the} 1944 German offensive through) the Ardennes was cut off by the| Allies. He estimated that the German Army suffered casual- ties totalling 250,000 men when they were ground to a halt at Fallaise. } Sir Neil attributed the ab-| sence of major wars since 1945) to the United Nations. He said) | that 50 years ago the Hungarian} k revolt and the Suez conflict} would have started major wars. | "The UN," he claimed, "'is a} good place for nations to let off) | batches, roads. General Ritchie said India had been a wonderful training ground and that the British army there couldn't help but become involved in forays with the hill tribes, RELIGIOUS STRIFE As Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Land Forces in 1947, General Ritchie recalled the religious strife in India during their independence movement. He believes a million lives were lost as a direct result. He said that almost no single Indian Regiment was composed of either Mohamedans or Hindus and as a result the army was broken up in 1947 with the Mohamedan portion of the army going to Pakistan while the Hindus went to India. "If there, "heen time to re-assemble the Indian forces, a good deal of bloodshed and bitterness could have heen "When -- the Hindu officers when their Moha com- but admitted disciplined people would be needed in any disaster. He said he doubted if another major war was coming. Semi-retired Sir. Neil speak- ing on modern transportation said that the day was coming when more and more people would be living out of the Toronto for 10 years. At his 100-acre farm, General Ritchie said he did not intend to become a farmer although his hobbies are gardening and horticultural activities as well as the occasional game of golf. Although semi-retired, Sir Neil .makes frequent trips to Toronto aschairman and Pres- ident of the Mercantile and General Reinsurance Co, of Canada. He was born on July 29, 1897, the second son of the late Dugald Ritchie. In 1937 he mar- ried the former Catherine Min- nes of Kingston, Ont. The Ritchie's have two chil- dren, Dugald, 22, of Dominion Securities and Anne, 20, study- ing a pre-kindergarten course in Toronto. Asked if he intended to write an autobiography Sir Neil said |avoided," continued Sir_Neil;|* Person should never go into Second Bengal| Print during his own lifetime on| |Lancers left Singapore in two oneself. | wept) It seems likely that General Ritchie will go into print about himself after his death. The richness of his vatied life dur- ing one of the most turbulous times in the history of man is undoubtedly worth telling. Few people have been at so many trouble spots at so many times in so many years as has Sir Neil Ritchie of Balsam. RISE RAPID A review of his record indi- cates Sir Neil's rapid rise through the ranks of the British armed forces, In 1914 at the outbreak of hostilities he was commission- ed a second lieutenant at the age of 17 in the Black Watch. | Township Council Delays Decision On Road Payment borne by Area 2 residents when | $5 it will become a township |{u 2 PICKERING --A_ debate lover who should pay for. a proposed road to. a proposed sehool_in- School. Area 2 in Pickering Township 'Se matter being tabled by Pickering Township Council until future plans for the road are known, A road allowance exists off White's Sideroad south of Dun- barton High School. It has been recommended that the which will lead to a new resulted in|said Deputy nigesbs yp "but to the school. At). In 1915 he was promoted to|consolidated public school to be the rank of lieutenant and in|constructed, be prepared as a 1917 became Captain at the/6'! roadway and paved. As age of 20. During the first war|planned, it leads to the school he served with distinction in|and ends in a cul-de-sac. France, Mesopotamia and Pal-| 4 resolution of estine and was awarded the|pickering Township Council Distinguished Service Order in|+ecommended that the road be 1917 and the Military Cross in|pyiit; that the school board pay 1918, the cost, agree to dedicate the During the years between/lands, and that there be an 1923 and 1927 he was attached|agreement with p! board to the British War Office andjand council about what part attended the Camberley Staff|should be constructed and College in 1929 and '30. Also in|paved. 1930 he received the rank of} ¢oyncillor John Williams Bt. Major. wanted. to know why council From 1933 to 1937, Sir Neiljor the road committee was served in the Northern Com-|asking to obtain payment from mand in India and was pro-|the school area residents. He moted to Major in 1934 and Bt.|thcught the conditions laid ,| Lt. Colonel in 1936. In 1938 he became a Lieu-|_ tenant Colonel and command- ed the King's Own Regiment. In -19389 he was awarded the rank of 'Colonel and was at- tached to the Brigadier General' Lord Alanbrooke: Staff. During the same year with the coming European conflict he was pro- moted to Brigadier. In 1940 at the beginning of the Second World War, Sir Neil was commissioned to Act- ing Major General and com- manded the 5ist Highland Divi- sion in 1940 and '41. He re- ceived the Order of the British Empire Cross (CBE). CHIEF OF STAFF In 1941 Sir Neil became the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Middle East with the rank of Temporary Major General. | Also in 1941 he took over Mont- gomery's Eighth Army in North Africa with the acting rank of Lt. General. His promotion to Major Gen- eral came in 1943 while he was Commander of the 52nd Low- land Division. In 1944 he was transferred to the command of the 12th B. LA. and was promoted to tem- porary Lt. General. He ended the war in 1945 with the rank of Lt. General. After the war in 1947 Sir Neil was promoted to General and was Commander in Chief of the Far East Land Forces until 1949. From 1948 to 1951 he was ADC general to the King and served as commander of the British Army Staff in Washing- ton. He was also a member of the Joint 1950 and 1951. At his retirement in 1951 he was. awarded the Knights Grand Cross (GBE) and re- tained his position of colonel of the Black Watch in the Royal Highland Regiment until 1952. Beside his Britih decorations Sir Neil holds the awards of: Legion of Honor, Croix de Guerre, Kt. C d ot down were pretty stringent. "The whole cost will Be a meeting the engineer thought this was the way it should be done." -- . statement that it will only serve the school said Mr. Williams. "Are we going to ask school board to construct a foot road at tremendous cost?" asked Councillor Ron. Chatten. Mr. Chatten said that although he moved the resolu- tion in committee, he now saw future it becomes ,a_ public road it could be used by the whole township. "Tf it only leads to the school it will be only used by Area 2," observed Mrs. Mc- Pherson. The deputy reeve, who moved the resolution to con- struct the road and request payment from the school board, was persuaded to table the resolution until future plans for the road were studied by planning board and council, Counil Defeats | To Hold Up Subdivisions FICKERING -- A resolution that all proposed subdivisions be tabled until a sewage report is received by Pickering Town- ship was defeated at a council meeting. Councillors John Williams and Ronald Chatten supported it; Reeve C. W. Laycox, Dep- uty Reeve Mrs. Jean McPher- son, Councillors Donald Beer, Harvey Spang, and Norman Waller opposed it. The sewage report is ex- pected at the end of January, 1967. There are six subdivision ap- Plications before planning board and council, some approved 'in principle." Two are on the east side of Frenchman's Bay. two on the west side, one at Rosebank, and one in the West Kouge area, Motion Reeve Laycox said that it was "terrible" to be holding people up to the extent that has been done, and read a letter from a subdivider waiting for his answer. "We have not even looked at our standard subdivision agree- ment which we proposed," he said. "We should sit down for a full day .and iron out the wrinkles. I think- rather than table everything we have done, we should get down to business on our subdivision agreement." Councillor Chatten said that the engineer requested action of tabling subdivisions, so he could inform developers, that some action had been been six subdivisions for months now, and there were may not be true tomorrow,"|p, this |p taken. He said that there had |Selty fescos THE OSHAWA TIMES, Tuesday, December 27, WHITBY DAY - BY - DAY Ea ee RC ¥ School Sunnorters To Hold Nomination © WHITBY (Staff) ~--.A new eight-man Separate Schoo! Board will be elected as a re- sult of the union of three school areas." The operation of the Denis 'lo'Connor school, Whitby, and St. Leo's Separate School, Brooklin, will be affected by the Wer-| nominations to be held at 8 p.m. a Bai Shop 8, J. B. Real Estate 8, Storrar Lid. 7, Police Assoc. 5. WHITBY LADIES "FLOWER" BOWLING LEAGUE on Wednesday. ohn) St. Leo's is now operated by a board representing School ii Section 4 in Whitby Township. 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. with polls located at the Denis O'Connor School and St. Leo's School, North Street in Brooklin, WHITBY PERSONALS Christmas dinner guests at London Ont.; Mr. and' Mrs, the home of Mr. and Mrs Ross Lee, 334 Dovedale Drive were Mr. and Mrs. George Drury and children, Toronto. In the evening Mr. and Mrs. Lee held "Open House" for their friends. pis. | Today Miss Barbara Lee is cele- 7, 2) Pom-Mome 9, It mY Tulips 8, 13; Pansies 13, 28) Asters Vi, 22. High Double Flat, Ev. Curtis 475; High Double . With cp, Jannette Craddock 543; yi Single Fiat, Dorothy Brown AR: Single with Hdop, Anne 178 and over -- Phyllis Wild 185; Bet- ty Petrie 182; Ev. Curtis 222; Muriel Mctiwain 188, Joan Coulthard 187; Dor- othy Brown 200; Marg Connelly 177, 203; Josephine Olenik 240, 152; Pearl Rich- ard: ja Willis 191; Mary El brating her 18th birthday. A party was arranged for the oc- casion. Dinner guests on Christmas| day at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Li. C. McEachern, 328 Cochrane Street, were Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Cameron, Lindsay and Miss Margaret Miles, Car- yf Ger- | diff Craddock 193; Hazel Prescott 214, 201; Nessie = hard 184; Ena Gaine 176, 187; Marie MoLavghiin 185; Millie Elitott 185, G, Barr 199, 273; Betty Grant 190; Marjorie snrte 178. WHITBY MONDAY MIXED BOWLING Team Standings -- County Bowl 34, Rockets 34, Whitby Cleaners 33, Neigh- bors 32, Lucky Thirteens 31, Nighi Hawks 31, Stick Six 26, Candles 26, Big Five 25, Woodpeckers 24, Pipers 23, K PP's 22, Headpins 17, Pin H. D. Pontiac 10. over 600 --- Ron (237, 370, 286); Earl Smith 806 (333, 274); ay Jordan 780 (212, 294, 274); Charlie Gill 771 (241, 232, 298); Ron Pascoe 766 (306; 230, 230)) V. Jorday 742 (233, 200, 309); Jean King 733 (353); Clara Rowden (254, 258, 204); Doug Rowden 689 4290, 201) Chris Adeir 680 (315, 206); ila Phillipe 654 (276, 209); Cha: 646 (304) Allin Hewis 64 eggs 640 (202, 2 (204, 235); Bruce Armstrong 625 (232, 220); Brenda Van Hemmen 615 Age dE Blowers 19, (209, 200); Jenny Fowler 602 (220 219); and Harold Moore 602. (218, 211), numerous evenings when coun- cil could have met over them. Three Resign Township Posts PICKERING -- Gerald All- man, Claremont Village Trus- tee, has resigned from the trustee board of the village for "personal" reasons. In his letter of resignation, noted with regret by Pickering Services Mission in|/Township Council. Mr. Allman siad that the trustee board was working well, that there was a closer liason with the people, that accoundants were processed adequately, and good public re- ations had been established. He said that a replacement for him would be appointed shortly. Council accepted with regret the resignation of W. H. West- ney, a former reeve of the township, and warden of Ontar- fo county, from the Rouge - Duf- Creek Conservation Authority, a branch of the MTRCA. Reeve Laycox spoke highly of the service Mr. Westney had rendered, and said that he had learned a great deal about con- servation from Mr. Westney. Due to other commitments Notman Lehman has resigned |from the Committee of Adjust-| | | His resignation was accepted) with regret, as was the resig-! nation of F. Edwards from the township Plumbing Licensing} Board, One-Stop DECORATING SHOP @ Wellpaper and Murele @ Custom Draperies @ Brocdioom @ CLL, Paints end Vornishes @ Benjamin Moore Paints DODD & SOUTER DECOR CENTRE LTD, 107 Byron Se. $., Whitby PHONE 668-5862 Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Lucas and family, Michael, Brian, Lou- ise and Danny, spent Christ- mas day in Port Hope as guests of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Martin. Mr. and Mrs. Val Gohs, St. Catharines, were Christmas weekend guests at the home of her sister and borther - in - law Mr. and Mrs. Ross Ward, 320 Perry Street. Dinner guests Christmas day at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Lycell, 936 Crocus Cres- cent were: Miss Audrey Lamb, A Complete SERVICE © Heating © Plumbing © Kitchens COMPLETE © Bathrooms COMPLETE MAKE TRACTORS SAFER Special apparatus to protect the driver if the vehicle turns over now is mandatory for trac- tors built in Norway. Com d and Knight of Jerusalem. OSHAWA TIMES PICTURE RE-PRINTS Available At NU-WAY PHOTO SERVICE 251 King St. &., Oshawe 8 x 10 -- 1.50 each 5x7 -- 1.25 each 20% Discount on Orders of S or More Pictures William L. Lycett and daugh- ter Avelyne, Orono; Mr. and be A. Horstman, Bowmane ville. Best wishes are extended to Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Moore, 508 Perry Street, who are céle- brating their 25th wedding anni- versary today. ATTRACTIVE ROOMS for RENT Moderate Weekly Rotes A Le Carte Resteurant on mises. Apply JAMES MAH Whitby Hotel 207 Dundes West Whitby 668-2337 WHIT RU, tastes as good as The nomination mi will take place Dec. 28 at the \ O'Connor School, 1003 pat a a || BROCE Evening Programs at 6:55, 8:25 WHITBY Last Complete Show at 8:25 wae Roti ror |f, _ -cinicialitzing . ca! RICK 4:1; % PY Thee producto" Begins 8:30 & 10:00 P.M, Only 1 rasta \ | WAN TO | BIRD in SATURDAY MATINEE AT 1:30 -- Show Out 4:30 [ BINGO Columbus Club rades in arms left for Pakis- tan." Speaking of "the greatest per- son he had had the privelege to ' General : "Field Marshal Smuts of South Africa predicted in 1942 that it was the yellow steam. * | About the middle east, Gen-| eral Ritchie stated the situation) would never be satisfactory. He) said Israel would eventually ex.| pand its borders. | Speaking on the British Com- monwealth, Sir Neil said he SUGGESTIONS | VIYELLA SHIRTS ARROW -- SHIRTS and SPORTS SHIRTS McGREGOR HOSE TERRY WILLIAMS = SWEATERS CROYDON COATS FREEMAN'S FORMAL RENTALS -- From -- uss EVE'S MEN'S SHOP 129 Brock St. S. Whitby 668-2091 Knights of Columbus 6th Annual NEW YEAR'S EVE BALL At : COLUMBUS CLUB HALL 133 Brock St. N. Whitby On SAT., DEC. 31 9 to 12 P.M. Buffet -- Refreshments Prizes Favors $12.00 per couple FOR RESERVATION CALL J. McCarroll -- 668-2561 or Wm. Debosky -- 668-8112 Ritchie com-) Jan) | { FREE 24-HOUR BURNER SERVICE By Our Locol Service Contractors SAWDON'S FUELS FURNACE OIL -- STOVE OIL AND COAL 244 Brock St. S., Whitby 668-3524 133 Brock St. N. WHITBY EVERY TUES. NIGHT Doors Open at 7 P.M. Bingo Starts at 8 P.M, SHARP Admission 50¢ No Children Under 16 Years of age please. ww AJAX KINSMEN BINGO Y Yor THURSDAY, DEC. 29th Will Be. Held At ANNANDALE GOLF and COUNTRY CLUB And Will Include @ 20 Regular Games @ 5 Specials @ Admission $1.00 Chu rch St. X Pickering % % % AJAX @ ANNANDALE TALKS GARS WHAT DOES THE NEW YEAR HOLD FOR YOU? It will be a GOOD year in the view of economists. Consumer spending is at en all-time peck. Wages have registered the largest gain in a decade. Employment is relar tively full, A sompling of views at a recent con- vention of the American Bonkers' Asso- ciation favored o cor purchase foan (76 percent) over a home purchose (27 per- cent), home expansion (52 percent), starting @ smalt business (18 percent), or expanding a corporation (22 percent) under present economic conditions. Auto mak ore f ] banner year, Safer cors here on earth and new wonders in space cre @ part of our New Year. Let's hope too for a safer eorth free from war. Changes In portation from prog d high- ways to' practical electric cars (There are already 50,000 in deily use in England with annual production scheduled for 100,000) are being reliably predicted. May it be a year.of safe and happy motoring for you. If you are celebrating this holiday seeson, use moderation. Or to "pun" it another way: "The drinking driver is putting the quart before the hearse." Buckle your seat belt and be extra ceutious on the highways. We hope the New Year is a banner one for you, May your road through life be straight and. smooth . . . on enriching journey free of mishaps. May you have @ very hoppy and prosperous New Year, 4 th O18 pg NORTHSIDE GHRYSLER DODGE If you want to take advantage of special sale prices... for a cash advance At your GAC office, it's a simple matter to get the money you need to buy a bit of better living...a dryer or dishwasher for your home, a new boat for family fun, a color TV set, or new furnishings for any room in the house. 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