Name
Frank Pritchard
3 December 1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/08/1917
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/42893
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
16th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 113 to 115.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Shenley Village Memorial, St Botolph's Church Memorial, Shenleybury (now lost) (*1), Wife's grave, St Botolph's Churchyard, Shenleybury
Pre War
Frank Pritchard was born on 3 December 1885 in Wood Green, Middlesex, the son of Henry and Mary Jane Pritchard (nee Pickering). He was baptised on 20 February 1886 at St Michael's at Bowes Church, Southgate, Enfield, Middlesex and they were living at Crescent Road, Wood Green. His father's occupation was given as stationer. He was one of five children.
He was enrolled into Ackmar Road School, Parsons Green, London on 26 January 1891.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Heathfield Lodge, Western Road, Muswell Hill, Middlesex at which time 15 year old Frank was working as an auctioneer's clerk.
Between 1910 and 1913 he was listed on the electoral roll living at Hollington, Shenley, Boreham Wood.
He married Edith Ellen Taylor on 11 January 1913 at St Botolph's Church, Shenleybury. They had three children, Alexander Henry born 1913, Mary Kathleen born 1915 and Frank born 1917.
Prior to enlistment, Frank was one of the Shenley men and boys who became Special Constables and Citizen Volunteers. They worked in shifts to guard the water tower in Rectory Lane, Shenley, which was the main water supply, and practised rifle shooting at the rifle range at the Boys' School with rifles loaned to them by the Metropolitan Police.
Wartime Service
Frank was granted a two month exemption from military service on 1 November 1916 at a Westminster Tribunal in London and was described as 'indispensable as a valuer and auctioneer in connection with Prize Courts'. [Prize Courts were under the jurisdiction of the High Court of Admiralty and decided whether a ship had been lawfully seized in time of war. From 1914 auction sales of ships and their cargoes were regularly held in London and other ports around Britain.]
Frank enlisted in London in early 1917 and joined the 16th Battalion (Public Schools), Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex) Regiment, leaving for France in early summer the same year.
He had only been in France about three months when he was killed in action on 17 August 1917 (some reports suggest 16th), aged 31. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £2 11s 10d. She also received a pension of £1 6s 3d a week for herself and her three children. Her address on pension records was Bridgehurst Cottage, Green Street, Shenley.
There is a gap in the electoral roll between 1913 and 1919 but from 1919 to 1930 his wife was living at School Houses, Shenley and it is therefore believed that Frank lived there before enlistment. In 1939 Edith and the children were living at Homelea, Shenley
*1 Believed named on the lost memorial.
Acknowledgments
Taff Williams, Brenda Palmer
shenleyww1.wordpress.com
