 Kunyora kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Achipedza kudzidza kubva pamakore maviri muna Zvita 1929, Ritchie akashanda nechikwata chake kusvikira atumirwa kuIndia uye akaita GSO2 neNorthern Command, India, chinzvimbo chaakabata kubva musi wa 2 Kubvumbi 1933 kusvika 1 Kubvumbi 1937. Ari ikoko akasimudzirwa, kokutanga mumakore anenge gumi nematanhatu, kuva mukuru mukuru musi wa 1 Chikunguru 1933, mukuru mukuru musi wa 2 Chikumi 1934, uye mukuru mukuru mukuru musi wa 1 Ndira 1936. Pana 4 December 1936 Ritchie akaroora Catherine Taylor, mwanasikana waJames A. Minnes, wokuKingston, Ontario, Canada. Vaiva nevana vaviri; Arnott Dugald Neil naIsobel Anne. Musi wa 3 Ndira 1938 Ritchie akaendeswa kubva kuBlack Watch, kwaakange ave nemakore anopfuura makumi maviri nematatu, kuKings Own Royal Regiment Lancaster, uye akasimudzirwa kuva lieutenant colonel. Akava Commanding Officer we2nd Battalion, Kings Own pazuva rimwe chetero uye akatora mutungamiri webato muPalestine, akazoita mabasa ekuchengetedzwa kwemukati panguva yekumukira kweArabhu. Achibatsirwa munguva iyi yakaoma nomubatsiri wake, Captain Richard Anderson, akatungamirira battalion kusvikira muna August 1939, nguva pfupi Hondo Yenyika II isati yatanga muna September. Nokuda kwemabasa ake muPalestine Ritchie akanongedzerwa kwaari mumashoko. Mushure mokunge apfuudza battalion kuna Lieutenant Colonel John Hardy, Ritchie akadzokera kuEngland, kwaakakwidziridzwa kuva colonel musi wa 26 August 1939 ane ruzivo rwekudzokera kumashure kusvika 1 January uye akaitwa GSO1 paChikoro cheVakuru veChikoro kuSheerness, Kent. 