Pte 16863 John Pritchard

• Age: 20
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

16863 Private John PRITCHARD 18^th Battalion KLR.

John Pritchard was born on the 21st December 1895 and was baptised on 19th August 1896 in St Philemon’s Church, Toxteth, Liverpool, his parents were then living at 2 Pecksniff Street, Toxteth. John was the youngest of three children and the younger of two sons born to John, and his wife Elizabeth Ann (nee Robinson), born in Liverpool, who married at St Philemon’s, Toxteth on 31^st January 1887. John was a 28 year old seaman, father Alexander, whilst Elizabeth was aged 27, father James, both of 82 Northbrook Street. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 24 Nickleby Street, Dingle, Liverpool. John is five years of age and is living with his parents and two siblings. His father is a 41 year old marine fireman born in Dudley, Staffordshire, whilst his mother is 40 and was born in Liverpool. His siblings, both born in Liverpool are listed as; Florence aged 13 and James aged 7. 

By 1911 the family are living at 75 Dorrit Street, Liverpool. John is now 15 years of age and is recorded as a telegraph messenger. His father, John, is aged 52, and a marine fireman, his mother Elizabeth is aged 50 and they declare that they have been married for 24 years and that all three of their children had survived. John's sister Florence M. is living at home and is now a 23 year old domestic servant.    

John enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 01^st September 1914, joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16863. He gave his age as 19 years 10 days, his occupation as clerk and his next of kin as his father and mother, 75 Dorritt Street. He is described as being 5' 7" tall, weighed 124lbs, 36" chest with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. His religion is recorded as Church of England. 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

He crossed to France with his Battalion on board the SS Invicta on 07th November 1915.

John was killed in action during the attack on Montauban on 01^st July 1916.

18^th Battalion Diary

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on 23rd August 1916:

Pte. J. Pritchard, Liverpool Pals, killed in action. He resided at 75, Dorrit-street. 

Also in the Liverpool Daily Post on 07^th September 1916: 

John's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. 

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Soldiers Effects to father John, Pension to mother Elizabeth Ann. 

His father received his personal effects, just 1 wallet.  

In October 1916 his mother wrote to Army Records “on behalf of John, my husband” acknowledging receipt of her son’s minimal effects, to say “my son also had a wrist watch, his small book and a disc - please send them if they are found”.