BORN LANARKSHIRE 1872. ELDEST SON OF JAMES RUTHVEN (1838-1922) & AGNES RUTHVEN (1841-1901), OF ‘HAZELMERE’ HOUSE, PRINCES AVENUE, HULL. HE HAD ONE BROTHER AND FIVE SISTERS. HIS FATHER WAS FROM EDINBURGH AND CHAIRMAN OF THE HULL STEAM TRAWLER COMPANY. HIS FATHER JAMES WAS AN OIL MERCHANT. HE MARRIED FLORENCE OLGA TULLEY IN 1896, WHO LIVED AT 8 PARK AVENUE, HULL (PROBATE ADDRESS).
JAMES RUTHVEN, ENLISTED AT HULL, IN SEPTEMBER 1914. SERVED AS CAPTAIN, IN THE 4TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT AND COMMISSIONED, AGED 21. HE WAS AWARDED THE MILITARY CROSS (MC), IN 1917, FOR CLEARING A MINE TUNNEL. HE WAS REPORTED SERIOUSLY WOUNDED AND MISSING, THEN KILLED IN ACTION, NEAR ESTAIRES. ON 09/04/1918, AGED 46. HE WAS RESISTING THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE, WHEN “THEIR BACKS WERE TO THE WALL”. HE WAS REPORTED MISSING IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL, ON 11/09/1918. *
HE IS LISTED ON HYMERS COLLEGE MEMORIAL.
HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL, HAINAUT, BELGIUM.
THERE IS A HOLY TRINITY PLAQUE FOR HIM AND HIS YOUNGER BROTHER, WILLIAM LOGAN RUTHVEN KILLED ON 02/12/1917. THEIR DEATHS ARE ALSO RECORDED ON THE FAMILY GRAVE IN HULL WESTERN CEMETERY.
JAMES RUTHVEN LEFT £546 IN HIS WILL TO HIS SON JAMES WHO WAS A SHIP OWNER, LIVING AT 8 PARK AVENUE, HULL.
