John Richard Pritchard was born in 1879 in Oswestry. His parents were Edward, a general labourer and Mary. In 1891 the family was living at 12 Pistyl on Upper Brook Street Oswestry and by 1901 had moved to live at 32 Roft Street. All there would be 10 children but only 5 would survive into adulthood  John worked as a mineral water bottler employed by Drew & Company, Oswestry (see Lieutenant George Montford Drew) and later by Mr Sheather. On the 1901 Census return John is recorded as Trooper 26936 of 88 Company Imperial Yeomanry. The Imperial Yeomanry was raised as a volunteer force in 1901 to serve in the Boer War 1899-1902 – 88 Company was formed in Montgomeryshire and went out to South Africa in April 1901 – it is possible that on ‘census night’ (31 March 1901) John was on home leave just prior to departure. He was subsequently awarded the Queen’s South Africa campaign medal. When he returned to the UK John remained as a part-time ‘militia’ soldier until 1908 when he signed on as a Special Reservist in the new Territorial Force.

John and Mary Pritchard

In 1908 John married Mary nee Arnold; they would have a baby girl, also Mary, born the next year. In 1911 they were living at 39 Beatrice Street and later moved to 19 Middleton Road where Mary was living at the end of the war. As a Special Reservist, John would have been mobilised at the outbreak of war. He went over to France on 10 February 1915 as part of a reinforcement draft of 183 ORs posted to 2 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and joining up with the battalion on 13 February at Dickebusch. He ended the war serving in 1 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry.

John was wounded on 30 June 1918 and died the next day. At that time the 1 Bn KSLI were at Ypres in the area of Micmac Farm. An extended obituary in the Border Counties Advertiser, 17 July 1918, records his story; ‘Mrs Pritchard received the following wire from the War Office on Saturday week ‘Deeply regret to inform you that your husband Pte J Pritchard KSLI died 1 July from GSW leg and arm at 2 Canadian CCS France and I am to express the sympathy and regret of the War Council in your sad bereavement’. A telegraph had previously been sent by the chaplain in the hospital saying he was severely wounded but was receiving the best medical attention. Later, his C/O, Lt Corfield, wrote stating ‘Your husband was wounded on the night of 30 June 1918. He was with a party carrying rations up to the front line when he was unfortunate enough to be hit by some fragments of shell which burst near them. I was with him attached to the Royal Engineers(*) where I found him one of the best of men and also when we rejoined the battalion where I found him just as good and ever ready to help’ Pte Pritchard was the eldest son of Mr Edward and Mrs Pritchard of 46 Roft Street and a grandson of the late Mr John Cartwright, builder, Ellesmere’.

John is buried in Esquelbecq Military Cemetery, his headstone reads: ‘For duty right and home land’. A memorial service was held at Holy Trinity Church, Oswestry, Rev. Eben Evans officiating. Mr Tims was at the organ and played the Dead March and the hymn ‘The Saints of God‘ was sung. John is also commemorated on the War Memorial at Holy Trinity.

John Pritchard’s Prayer Book and New Testament

* earlier in the year a contingent of KSLI men were attached to the REs as pioneer/labourers. They had rejoined the battalion at the beginning of June 1918.

Acknowledgements. Photos Phil Allmark

References and Sources

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