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

World War II

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Ritchie, at the time an assistant news editor, broadcast to German-occupied countries during the war of the world war of world 2. 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

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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

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  1. ^ "The Papers of Douglas E Ritchie and Noel Newsome". Archivesearch. Archived 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.