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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Pte. William Pritchard
British Army 2/6th Btn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
from:Bangor
(d.4th Nov 1915)
William Pritchard was my great grandfather. He was born in Bangor, North Wales in 1866, one of 14 children. He had been a regular in the army and re-enlisted in 1914 at the age of 48. He joined the 2/6th Royal Welsh Fusailiers (Caernarfon & Anglsey) a second line unit set up after the outbreak of WW1.
He died on the 14th of November 1915 and is buried in a war grave at Glanadda Banor.
Pte. William Pritchard
Australian Imperial Force 4th Btn.
from:Bethnal Green, London
(d.6th-9th Aug 1915)
It took me five years to track down my grandfather, as my nanny had lied about where he died, due to family reasons. There had also been a family row (which my dad remembered) and my dad never saw his father's family again. My grandfather was killed in action between 6th and 9th August 1915 at Lone Pine, Gallipoli. Why he joined the AIF I have no idea. He was born in Brick Lane, London in 1890, married nanny in Bethnal Green in 1913 and my dad was born in 1914.
William Pritchard enlisted in the AIF at Liverpool Camp, Australia in November 1914. He landed at ANZAC Cove on 25th April 1915 between 11 and 12 pm. The first time I went to see him, (and I was the first person to go there in 90 years to see him) I made him a promise that I would be there at ANZAC on 25th April 2015, as everyone had seemed to forget about him except me.
I was there on the 26th, as on the 25th ANZAC was closed to the public, but was able to cruise past ANZAC about 9am that morning. That is a trip I will never forget nor the atmosphere at ANZAC and Lone Pine on the 26th April 2015.
Lone Pine! Lone Pine! Our hearts are numbly aching For those who come no more,Our boys who sleep the sleep that knows no waking,
Besides the Dardan's shore.
Through all the years, with glory sad and sombre,
Their names will deathless shine;
No bugle call can wake them from their slumber:
Lone Pine! Lone Pine!
Sleep on my brave heart, found at last, William Pritchard (my grandad).
Pte. William Pritchard
Austalian Imperial Force 4th Btn.
from:Hackney, London
(d.6th Aug 1915)
When I was growing up I always knew that my paternal grandfather, William Pritchard, had died in the First World War; my father was completely unapproachable about the subject.
The years went by, my father died in 1983; my life continued as lives do, but sometimes I would ask myself, who was my grandfather? I knew his name, William Pritchard the same name as my father, but that was it, just a name.
Then along came the Internet and with it the ability to search the First World War records, so off I started my research. First I tried the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour website. There were lots of Pritchards, but none killed on the Somme. There was one killed at Gallipoli, but the next of kin was wrong, I was looking for my grandmother Ada Pritchard. Many long nights followed, coffee made by my husband Steve left to go cold, and then I would give up for a few months. When I looked at my father's family tree, it was just my father and my grandmother and his half sisters. His mother (my grandmother) had remarried in the 1930s but there was no father for my father, and then I would start searching again. I would sit down at my computer and say, " ... right granddad tonight I am going to find you" then, nothing.
The search went on in this way for five years. I emailed the Australian authorities but they said they had no record of the pension. I even started to wonder did this man ever exist, but he had to have existed. Talking to the family, no one knew anything, my three aunts in Australia knew nothing. However, I never gave up hope of finding him. I tried birth records, but there was the problem of trying to find someone with the name of William Pritchard when you are not quite sure when or where they were born, and there were a great many people with the same name. I also looked for the record of his marriage to my grandmother, but found nothing. I was actually starting to feel quite down, but always in the back of my head was the War Pension from Australia, so they had to be married.
Then one night I was sitting there staring at the census records yet again, and I realised that I was looking at things the wrong way round. I should be looking for my grandmother marrying my grandfather, and 'bingo' the first search came up with the record of their marriage. Overjoyed, I immediately sent away for the marriage certificate and waited, it seemed to take ages to arrive! The marriage certificate arrived and I found out that my great grandfather was called James and where he lived. If I said it once I must have said it a hundred times that night to my husband "... did you know that my great grandfather was called James" - he would just smile and nod.
I was getting so frustrated. I emailed everyone on a website who had a William Pritchard born in London, hoping that although I may not have the full story, perhaps they might have further information. Most people responded, but of course it was all negative. But I had the wedding certificate and knew who my great grandfather was, so I started emailing everyone again, and that is when I got the reply back saying yes it looks like we are related. I explained to her about my grandfather but she did not have any information either but she said she would try and help me as I had made her curious, but I needed my grandfather's birth certificate. I got that and yes, I had finally found part of my grandfather's family. So in the space of 2/3 weeks I knew the names of my great grandfather and my great grandmother, I knew where my grandparents had married, I knew where they both lived before they were married, and from this relation I found all of the names of my grandfather's brothers and sister. My father's side of the tree was now getting full, but there was still the question of grandfather's death in the First World War.
Late that day the family member that I had found emailed with a link to the Australian Service records and said look at page 10. When I did I found the next of kin James Pritchard crossed out and in red ink Ada Pritchard added. I then went through the documents that she had found on line for me and on page 25, there it was, Widow Ada Pritchard, dependent William Joseph Pritchard (my father). It even told me how much pension they received, which was £1 every other week for my father and £2 every other week for my grandmother. So why did she tell my Mother that my grandfather was killed at the Somme? I just sat looking at the screen - it had been there all the time, but of course how was I to know. I must be honest, I cried, really cried tears of joy. I had done it, I had found him.
He was born in Brick Lane, London in 1890. He was 25 years old when he joined the 4th Battalion, A.I.F (yes this was the Battalion that went on the rampage in Cairo!) and served in D Company. He enlisted at Liverpool Camp, New South Wales on 6th November 1914 and left Sydney on the HMAT Seang Bee for Egypt, as a 2nd Reinforcement, on 11th February 1915. This was the day before my father's first birthday. He left Alexandria on 5th April 1915 on T.S.S. Lake Michigan for Gallipoli. He was killed between 6th and 9th August 1915 during the attack on Lone Pine, and is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial. There was a Court of Enquiry at a place called Fleurbaix, France, which confirmed his death in action but when I asked the Australian Government if they had the papers, they said unfortunately they have no other papers on my grandfather.
It is unclear whether my grandfather travelled to Australia to enlist certainly I was told this by my mother... he joined the Australian Army because they paid better than the British Army, and if he was killed, then my grandmother also got a better pension" - and one must remember that £6 a month in 1915/16 was a lot of money in those days. However, he could have gone to Australia in 1914 to seek a new life and employment on the land, but the war upset his plans. My feeling is that he intended that my grandmother and my father would settle in Australia with him. I suppose the thought of a bright new future in Australia was very appealing. The family row, oh well that was because his father - James Pritchard wanted some of the pension money! It is unclear why my grandfather put his father, James, down as next of kin on the Attestation Form. Perhaps he did so in case the Australian Army would not take married men from England. But that is something else for me to look up.
My grandfather's death in the period 6th to 9th August occurred when the 4th Bn. of the 1st Australian Division were engaged in bitter fighting at Lone Pine - an action in which seven VCs were awarded. The attack is well chronicled, C E W Bean devotes no less than 40 pages to it in The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918. He records that the attack began at 5.30pm on 6th August, on a narrow front with the first troops filing into tunnels, which extended some fifty yards beyond the front line. The attacking troops reached the Turkish front line but found it roofed over with heavy logs, which the Australians tried to remove while others went further forward and then worked their way back along the communication trenches. Much of the fighting took place in semi-darkness with attacks and counter-attacks that lasted until 9th August.
Another author, Alan Moorhead, comments in his book Gallipoli, "... it is really not possible to comprehend what happened. All dissolves into a confused impression of a riot, of a vicious street fight in the back alleys of a city, and the metaphor of the stirred-up ant heap persists ..."
What we do know is that 1st Australian Division lost over 2,000 men during the battle. The 4th Battalion, in which my grandfather served, went in with 20 officers and 722 other ranks and suffered the loss of 15 officers and 459 other ranks killed wounded or missing (63% of those engaged).
After years of wondering and searching I now have answers to my questions.
Pte. William Horace Pritchard
British Army 2nd/6th Btn. North Staffordshire Regiment
from:Railway Terrace, Colwich, Stafford
(d.8th May 1917)
William Pritchard was the she son of Richard and Eliza Pritchard, he is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial in Somme, France.
Capt. William Pritchett
British Army 17th Btn. Notts and Derbys Regiment (Sherwood Foresters)
from:Nottingham
William Pritchett went out into no mans land, leading a squad, with orders to blow up a knocked out tank the Germans were using for artillery ranging. Looking inside the tank he saw it'd been caught in a gas attack, as the interior was yellow, and the remains of the crew and their uniforms were broken down by the mustard.
He lost his rank as Acting Captain when the 17th Sherwood Foresters were disbanded but regained the rank on 21/3/18 with the 7th Robin Hoods, only to be captured that very day. The day of The disaster at Bullecourt.
A/Cpt. William Pritchett
British Army 17th Batt. A Company Sherwood Foresters
from:Nottingham
My Grandfather William Pritchett was made acting Captain on 20/3/1918. He was captured on the first day of 'Die Kaiserschlacht'. In a diary he kept as POW in Mainz he drew a map of the immediate area and described what happened - it follows closely the unit diary's description of that fateful day.
The Sherwood Foresters suffered more killed than any of the other 200 plus British battalions that fought that day. After the war he kept a chest of momentoes, German pickelhaube, bayonets, pistols etc brought home from leave periods, but at some stage he threw them into the Trent River, near Beeston. I wish he had kept them. There are some less warlike items of his in the regimental museum.
Pte. Joseph William Pritt
British Army 3rd/5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers
from:Far Bank, Corney, Cumberland
(d.19th July 1917)
Born in Corney, Cumberland, in 1897 Joseph Pritt was the son of Myles Singleton Pritt a farmer, and Mary Josephine Pritt (nee Poole), of Far Bank, Corney, Cumberland. He enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers at Millom in South Cumberland.
L/Cpl. George Edward Pritty
British Army 2nd Btn. Middlesex Regiment
from:London
(d.4th January 1915)
Pte. Henry Privett
British Army 22nd Btn. London Regiment
Henry Privett served with the 22nd Londons.
Pte. Frederick Joseph Prizeman
British Army 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers
from:Dublin
(d.21st March 1918)
Pte. Edward Thomas Probert
British Army Essex Regiment
from:Jewel Road, Walthamstow
My grandfather, Edward Probert served in the First World War. No funny stories to tell, no anecdotes, unfortunately he was one of those who didn't want to talk and by the time I was old enough to know, he had already died. However he did serve until 1917 when he was invalided out of France with shrapnel wounds.
Pte. James Francis Henry Probert
British Army 1st Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment
from:Dudley
(d.3rd Nov 1914)
James Probert was the son of James and Eliza Mary Probert, of 3, Guests Fold, Dudley
Pte. Albert Edward Proberts
British Army 4th Btn. West Riding Regiment
Rfmn. William Frederick Probets
15th Bn. London Regiment
(d.1st Sep 1918)
William Probets is a relative on my fathers side I am trying to find out all I can about him, can anyone point me in the right direction?
Pte. Harold Procter
British Army 1/6 Btn. Cheshire Regiment
from:Stockport
(d.20th Sep 1917)
Pte. Harold Procter served with the 1/6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment and died on 20th September 1917.
Pte. Arthur Herbert Proctor VC.
British Army 1/5th Btn. King's Liverpool Regiment
from:Liverpool
Pte. Charles Howard Proctor
Australian Imperial Force 2nd Btn.
from:West Maitland, New South Wales
(d.2nd May 1915)
Charles Proctor was killed on the 2nd of May 1915, aged 23 and is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial in the Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey. He was the son of Richard and Elizabeth Proctor of West Maitland, New South Wales.
Pte. Frank Arthur Proctor
British Army 10th (Stockbrokers) Battalion Royal Fusiliers
from:Mitcham
(d.25th August 1918)
Frank Proctor was born on 2nd of October 1899 in Surbiton. He joined up on 13th of January 1917, aged barely 17, only 5 foot tall, weighing 6 1/2 stone, a mere boy. So very sad. His younger sister, Nancy, used to talk of him with great affection. He was killed right near the end of the war, at Favreuil, on 25th of August 1918, and is buried at the Railway Cutting Cemetery at Courcelles-le-Comte in France.
His nephew, Clive Strutt, laid a wreath on his grave on the centenary of his death. We wish we could have known him. Rest in Peace, Uncle Frank.
Pte. James Stanley Proctor
British Army 6th (Service) Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment
from:Spalding, Lincolnshire
My grandfather, James Proctor joined the 6th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment in 1914. His medal record on WO/372/16 shows that he disembarked "Balkans" 18 July 1915. This ties in with the Battalion history of the units involvement in the Gallipoli campaign at Sulva bay.
My next information is he is with the 3rd Battalion back in Grimsby in March 1917. He married my grandmother at the local Baptist church (Anne Mitchell nee Ainsworth) as the 3rd battalion was the depot/training battalion for the Regiment I presume that he had been wounded, shell shocked? I then found he was listed as being with the 1/5th battalion,on "absent voters list" 1919. He survived the war (though his marriage did not!) and passed away 1933. Any further information on these events gratefully accepted.
Pte. Joseph Thornton Proctor
British Army 10th Btn Durham Light Infantry
from:93 Cross Sheraton St., Spital Tongues, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
(d.17th September 1917)
Joseph Proctor was the husband of Ellen Proctor.
Pte. William Proctor
Australian Imperial Forces 7th Battalion
from:Bungawannah, NSW
(d.11th Nov 1917)
It is now 101 years ago to the day that Private William Proctor was killed in action at Passchendaele Ridge, Ypres whilst on Ration Party. William is not a relative, he is a soldier that I have loved since I started to research 30 years ago having acquired his diary from 1917, first contacting the Lord Mayor of Melbourne and from there on my plight was passed to the relevant researchers (in particular Jim Tippetts, a very kind man I had the pleasure of meeting) and finally returning the diary to William's nephew.
I have travelled to Ypres several times trying to trace his footsteps, locating his name on the Menin Gate and finally laying a wreath at the place he fell to sleep age 23 years. What an incredible man, a life cut far too short like so many others. He sailed from Albany on HMAT Ballerat arriving on British shores following the vessel being torpedoed. His diary details every day from 1917-01-03 to 9th November 'Very heavy barrage on both sides and a few close shaves. Lying low all day'.
If anyone has any further information about past or present relatives I would be so delighted to hear from anyone. William will always be very special to me and I long for more information, photos etc.
Pte. William Proctor
British Army Sherwood Foresters
from:Barton-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire
William Proctor of the Sherwood Foresters was treated in hospital from 11th of September 1916 to 13th of February 1917 for a gun shot wound to the left hand, received in France on 23rd of August 1916. He was also suffering from scabies. he was transferred to Sycamore Road Military Hospital for further scabies treatment.
Lt. Leopold Profeit
British Army 8th Btn. Kings Shropshire Light Infantry
from:Craiggowan, Balmoral, Aberdeenshire
(d.25th Apr 1917)
Leopold Profeit was a son of Dr. Alexander Profeit, Queen's Commissioner at Balmoral during the reign of Queen Victoria.
Pte. Alfred Sydne Prosser
British Army 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire
from:Tewkesbury
(d.5th Sep 1916)
On the 5th of September 1916, during the Battle of the Somme Private Alfred Prosser had already been out on patrol, bringing back a body of a dead German officer, when he was ordered to go out again. This time the group was hit by a shell killing 5 men including Albert. He and the others are buried in the Hebuterne Communal Cemetery, France.
Gnr. Jack Prosser
British Army 147th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery
from:Higher Broughton, Manchester
(d.13th Dec 1916)
Pte. Stanley Reginald Protheroe
British Army 10th Btn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
from:Gwaen Cae Gurwen, Glamorganshirse
Stanley Protheroe served with the 10th Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Rflmn. Charles Percival H Proud
British Army 18th (London Irish Rifles) Battalion London Regiment
from:25 Bolwell St, Lambeth
(d.1st Dec 1917)
Charles proud was born in Lambeth 1898, the son of William and Caroline Phoebe (nee Warrier). He died of wounds and is buried at Equancourt, France.
Cpl. John Henry Proud
British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
also served att 39th Div G & att 50th div RA
L/Sgt. Frederick Proudfoot
British Army 10th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
from:Alloa
My Grandfather, Frederick Proudfoot was in the WW1 in the 10th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. During 1914 to the summer of 1915 he wrote a daily diary whilst in the trenches. With great difficulty I am transcribing his minute writing. He was wounded returned home and after his recovery joined the Blackwatch taking with him a box Brownie camera. I am now scanning these photos. This has been such a sobering yet uplifting experience going back in time to the day he wrote his diaries.
"I am writing this down because maybe one day someone will read this"
Pte. Ewart Gladstone Proudman
British Army 1st Battalion Kings Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment
from:Heaton Park, Manchester
(d.22nd Oct 1916)
Page 45 of 48
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