Donald Ricketts MC OBE 1896-1979
by Museum Director Zara Matthews
“A thoughtful father”, Soldier, Forestry Conservator, Chess Composer and Sealed Member of The Panacea Society.
Thomas Charles Donald Ricketts (known as Donald) joined the Panacea Society in 1922 and remained a member until his death in 1979.
Born in Kent, Donald joined the Indian Army in 1915 and later served in Iraq (Mesopotamia) for which he was awarded the Military Cross. He studied Forestry at Trinity College Cambridge, during which time he joined the Panacea Society, and in 1923 he went to work for the Department of Conservation in Myanmar (Burma). Donald married in 1929, his wife Wilhelmina travelled with him. He was awarded an OBE for his part in the evacuation of Burma in 1942. A chess enthusiast and composer he was President of the British Chess Problem Society. He moved to Albany Road, Bedford, later in life and died here in 1979 aged 83.
Donald joined the army in 1915 at the age of 19, and served in the Indian Army. In 1916 he shipped to Mumbai (Bombay) and his rank is given as Second Lieutenant. In 1919 his acting rank, Captain, was confirmed and he was sent to Iraq (Mesopotamia) where he served in an infantry regiment, the 82nd (attd. 87th) Punjabis Indian Army. During the First World War some 1.5 million soldiers were drawn from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar and Nepal. White British officers, including Donald Ricketts, were sent to command these troops. A significant number of soldiers were from the Punjab Region in North West India.
During the First World War the British Empire fought the Ottoman Empire for control of Iraq (Mesopotamia). The British gained control of the region and in 1920 set up the state of Iraq. A rebellion followed which the British suppressed.
In 1921 Donald was awarded the Military Cross and he took up a place at Trinity College Cambridge to study Forestry. It was about this time he came into contact with the Community of the Holy Ghost (later The Panacea Society) and by 1922 he was a member. By the end of that year Donald was in a relationship with another member Edgar Peissart. Edgar was from the USA and came to Bedford to meet with Octavia, he mixed ideas from different belief systems and attempted to take over leadership of the Society. Edgar was expelled and returned to the USA early in 1923. Donald remained a member and was highly regarded, he stayed in contact with the Community sending letters, articles and photographs whilst he was abroad.
He gained a position with the Department of Conservation (Imperial Forest Service) as Assistant Conservator and travelled to Myanmar (Burma) in 1923. Within a year he was promoted to Deputy Conservator. The British Empire’s Department of Forests controlled logging rights in the Burmese forests. The Department was set up following severe deforestation across British controlled Asia caused by the European demand for timbers such as teak during the 19th century.
On 15th August 1929 Donald married Wilhelmina Gladys Coton at St Barnabas Church, Hanover Square, London. Wilhelmina was 34 and her father Charles Coton a scientist. Donald was 33 and living at The Lister Institute at Chelsea Bridge, London. His father believed to be deceased by this time was Thomas Frank Ricketts a Physician. Their witnesses were Charles Coton and Annie Ricketts (Donald’s mother). Donald and Wilhelmina travelled to Rangoon in September 1929, first class.
Donald and his wife sent the Panacea Society a number of photographs of their life in Burma. Including his dog. Sadly, we do not know the dog’s name. It stands out as Octavia banned resident members from owing pets.
The end of our drawing room in Minbu
“D. Ricketts’ Indian Gang”Donald’s mother Annie lived with her daughter in Australia for a time and then with Donald in Burma. In 1933 she became a resident member of the Panacea Society living in Rothsay Road Bedford until her death in 1970.
In December 1941 the Japanese began their invasion of British controlled Burma. We do not know if Wilhelmina and their children were still there at this time, however as Deputy Conservator Donald was put in charge of hundreds of British and Indian refugees, leading them on a 300-mile trek to escape the invading forces and Burmese independence fighters. Donald was awarded an OBE for his “courage, determination and devotion to duty”.
Awarded OBE 1943
January 1943 supplement to the London Gazette
Thomas Charles Donald Ricketts M.C. Indian Forest Service, Deputy Director of Evacuation (Deputy Conservator of Forests) Burma. During the early stages of the evacuation of Rangoon Mr Ricketts was in charge of the construction of all labour camps and welfare work in these camps. Later when making arrangements at Mohnyin for housing and feeding evacuees, he was ordered, owing to the rapid Japanese advance, to start for India with his able-bodied refugees. Mr Ricketts however, refused to leave behind any refugees in his charge and set out with a large number including women, children and invalids. He led these overland 300 miles and was able to get more than 300 to safety. Mr Ricketts showed courage, determination and devotion to duty.
We don’t know much about Donald’s life after the Second World War; from the 1958 telephone directory we know he was living in Swineshead, north of Bedford. Donald was also a highly respected Chess Composer, according to the British Chess Problem Society he specialised in “three-and more movers and composed many problems with his quiet moves and model mates.” He was awarded First Prize by the British Chess Federation in 1959 and second Prize for The Problemist in 1967. Donald became President of the British Chess Problem Society in 1969.
Donald also painted, and we have a number of his paintings in the Museum collections. This one is labelled “Sunlit beeches” by T.C.D. Ricketts.
Wilhelmina, also a member of the Panacea Society, died in 1969. They are buried together in the Foster Hill Road Cemetery in Bedford. The gravestone reads:
In loving memory of a
Dear wife and mother
Wilhelmina Gladys Ricketts
Died 26th November 1969
Aged 74 years
The dead in Christ shall rise first
And of a thoughtful father
Thomas Charles Donald
Ricketts
Died 15th December 1979
Aged 83 years
Conservator of Forests – British Imperial Forest Service India
Myanmar, or Burma as it was known during the colonial era, was under British rule from 1824 to 1948 and part of British India until 1937. Burma was occupied by Japanese and Thai forces from 1942 to 1945. It was strategically important as it bordered both India and China, and had considerable raw materials in oil, rubber and tin.
The British Empire logged huge areas of Myanmar’s forests during the colonial era; hardwoods such as teak were used in ship building. The Department of Forests was set up to manage logging after large areas of forest were destroyed. The British put in place a system which gave the majority of logging rights to European companies. Access to forests became an important part of the push for independence.
During WW2 Allied forces from the British Empire, the Republic of China and the USA fought against the Empire of Japan for control of Myanmar (Burma). Many of the British troops fighting in Burma were from India and British controlled countries in Africa, as well as Britain and the Caribbean.
When the Japanese army invaded Burma in 1941 thousands of British, Indian and Anglo-Burmese people fled across jungle, swamp and mountains to reach British controlled India. The shortest route was 120 miles but many took longer routes, including Donald and his party, trekking 300 miles to reach safety. Many travelled at night to avoid the Japanese forces and Burmese independence fighters; food was scarce and the heat and rainfall made it challenging. Many died from starvation, exhaustion, disease and drowning. 220,000 refugees arrived in India, 4268 people are recorded as died on the journey, though the true number is thought to be much higher.
Acknowledgments and References
Vicki Manners, Panacea Charitable Trust Archivist
The Punjab Registers: Finding Forgotten Soldiers of the First World War - CWGC
Mesopotamia campaign | National Army Museum
‘Octavia, Daughter of God, The Story of the Female Messiah and her Followers’ Jane Shaw, 2011
BBC - History - World Wars: The Burma Campaign 1941 - 1945
Ellis, John, World War II: A Statistical Survey: The Essential Facts and Figures for All the Combatants, 1993
A history of state forestry in Burma – Arboriculture
Adrian Bean Home Page - Foster Hill Road Cemetery
Wilhelmina Gladys Coton Ricketts (1895-1969) - Find a Grave Memorial
Thomas Charles Donald Ricketts (1896-1979) - Find a Grave Memorial
Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility - GOV.UK
Orders, Decorations and Medals - UK Honours System
The British Empire's War Against Japan: A Reflection | Feature from King's College London
