Douglas Ritchie

For the Rhodesian politician, see Douglas Hamilton Ritchie.

Douglas Ernest Ritchie (1905–1967)^[1] was a British news editor at the BBC.

World War II

Ritchie, at the time an assistant news editor, broadcast to German-occupied countries during the war. He adopted the moniker "Colonel Britton",^[2] and his identity was a closely guarded secret until after the war.^[3]

He was in charge of the BBC's wartime "V for Victory" campaign.

He created the "Continental V Army".^[4]

By the time of the disclosure of his identity in 1945 he was director of the European news department of the BBC.

Post war

After the end of the war Ritchie rose to the position of head of publicity at the BBC. At the age of 50 he suffered a stroke.^[5]

His book Stroke: A Diary Of Recovery^[6] was hailed by John O'Londons as "A triumph of the highest order".

References

1. "The Papers of Douglas E Ritchie and Noel Newsome". Archivesearch. from the original on 4 October 2021.
2. Seth, Ronald (1969). The truth-benders: psychological warfare in the Second World War. Leslie Frewin Publishers Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 978-0090961207.
3. Clarke, Joseph F. (1977). Pseudonyms: The Names behind the Names. Thomas Nelson Publishers. p. 27. ISBN 978-0840765673.
4. Hall, Helena (30 November 2014). A Woman in the Shadow of the Second World War: Helena Hall's Journal from the Home Front. Pen and Sword Military (published 19 February 2015). p. 266. ISBN 9781473823259.
5. Stewart, Monnica C. (1971). My Brother's Keeper? (2nd ed.). Health Horizon. p. 19. ISBN 978-0901548184.
6. Ritchie, Douglas (1960). Stroke: A Diary Of Recovery. Faber & Faber. ASIN B0000CKN4E.