Arthur Richard ROUTLEDGE

Captain Arthur Richard Routledge FRCVS was the son of James Routledge J.P. of Jarrow, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He was educated at the Royal Kepier Grammar School, Durham, before entering the Royal (Dick) Veterinary College in October 1892. He qualified MRCVS in May 1895, winning the 2nd Fitzwygram Prize that year. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, qualifying FRCVS in May 1903.

In 1906, he succeeded Mr. G. H. Kitchen and built a large and successful practice in Louth, Lincolnshire. He also held appointments as an inspector for the Board of Agriculture and Lindsey County Council, as a Veterinary Surgeon to the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, and as an Examiner to the Worshipful Company of Farriers. In July 1913, he undertook a post-graduate course in pathology.

He joined the Territorial branch of the Army Veterinary Corps in May 1914 and served from the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914. Initially, he was attached to the Sherwood Rangers and later commanded Veterinary Hospitals at Bury-St-Edmunds and Huntingdon, Suffolk.

He was then posted overseas and served in France for the next two years. While serving at Number 3 in France, he was kicked by a mule, and the resulting injury to his knee necessitated his remaining in hospital there for some time. He was eventually evacuated home to the United Kingdom for rest and once sufficiently recovered he was posted to York for light duties. However, his health again broke down, and he was admitted to 3rd Northern General Hospital, Leeds and in April 1918, he was invalided out of the army through ill-health contracted on active service.

He returned to practice in Lincolnshire and had been elected to Louth Town Council but became seriously ill before he could take his seat. He died in the 4th Northern General Hospital, Lincoln on 27th June 1918, aged 44, and was buried with full military honours in Louth Cemetery, England.

Routledge was twice mentioned in dispatches during the war.

The Veterinary Journal’s obituary described Routledge as follows:

“He was held in high esteem by his colleagues in arms and was a smart, efficient officer…. He was a fine officer and a splendid example for others to follow.”