Pte 78295 Thomas Henry Pritchard

• Age: 21
• From: West Kirby, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• Died Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Janval Cemetery, Dieppe
  Panel Ref: II.K.2

Thomas Henry was born in West Kirby in 1896 the son of William Edward Pritchard and his wife Sarah (nee Hickman) who were married on the 02nd November 1887 at St Paul's Church, Tranmere, his father was a 21 year old clerk, and his mother was aged 19 and both were residing in Tranmere.

The 1901 census records the family living at 5 Westbourne Road, West Kirby. His father, William, is aged 45 and was born in Shrewsbury, and working as West Kirby’s railway station master, his mother, Sarah, is aged 43 and was born in Birkenhead. Thomas Henry is 7 years old and born West Kirby, and had five siblings: Harold who at the age of 12 was an apprentice ironmonger born in Rock Ferry, William H. aged 11 born in Condover, Shrewsbury, Harry aged 7 b.Bebington, Frederick G. 3, Charles Godfrey aged 1 and Sydney aged 5months were all born in West Kirby.

Thomas’s brother William died in 1901. Harold, his eldest brother married in 1910.

At the time of the 1911 census the family lived at the same address. William 45 and Sarah 43 are recorded as having been married for 23 years, and Sarah has borne 10 children, three of whom have died – William as previously mentioned and two sons in infancy in 1892 and 1893. Living at home with their parents are: Harry aged 17 who is an apprentice house painter, Thomas Henry 15 also an apprentice house painter, Frederick George 13 at school, Sydney 10 at school, and born since the last census, Lucy  aged 7. They have an 18 year old boarder Frederick Constable.

Thomas enlisted in Birkenhead and was serving with the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 78295 when he died on 09/04/1917.

Thomas enlisted in Birkenhead but after his medical was deemed to be Class C ("unfit for overseas service") and was given guard duties at home. His health and fitness improved and was therefore mobilised in 1917, going over to France with the 25th Labour Corp.

There is some confusion as to the correct Battalion in relation to Thomas Henry's service as CWGC shows the 25th Labour Battalion whilst SDGW shows the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. Medal Roll is also for 25th Labour C. KLR.

Thomas rests at Janval Cemetery in Dieppe at plot I.F.6 where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"PEACE PERFECT PEACE".

Dieppe was used by Commonwealth forces as a minor base from December 1914 onwards, particularly for supplies of small arms ammunition, forage and flour. From January 1915 to May 1919, "A" Section of No.5 Stationary Hospital was stationed in the town. During this period, 219 Commonwealth burials were made in Janval Cemetery, a large civil burial ground. Most of the graves form two plots in Section T, but there are also three burials among the French and Belgian military graves in Section U. Section F of the cemetery also contains a small plot of 29 Second World War burials, mostly dating from the early months of occupation, before the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force in May 1940. 

Thomas is commemorated on the Memorial at St Bridget's Church in West Kirby.

There is some confusion as to the correct Battalion in relation to Thomas Henry's service as CWGC shows the 25th Labour Battalion whilst SDGW shows the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment.

The loss to the family is vividly portrayed in the following newspaper article from the Birkenhead Advertiser of Saturday 14th April 1917.

WEST KIRBY STATIONMASTER'S LOSS - THREE SONS IN FOUR YEARS

 Mr Pritchard, stationmaster at the L & N.W. and G. W. joint Railway Station, West Kirby, has been officially informed of the death of his fourth son Pte Thomas Pritchard, who was 21 years of age. The young soldier was only called up a month ago. He was a Class C Man and was drafted out to the front with a Labour Battalion. Prior to joining the colours he served his apprenticeship as a painter and decorator. Pte Pritchard, whose genial personality was his charm, was a member of a company of the Cheshire Volunteers and discharged the duties of a signaller. Mr Pritchard has had the sad misfortune to lose three sons within four years.

He was reported to have died in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 10th May 1917:

DIED

Liverpool R. - Pritchard, 78295, T. (West Kirby).

Soldiers Effects to father William E., Pension to mother Sarah. 

The other sons referred to in the article were: Harry died aged 19 in 1913 in Wigan. Charles Godfrey died aged 15 at the Maghull Home for Epilepsy.

William and Sarah had not only lost three sons in four years, they had lost their son William in 1901 at the age of 11, and two sons in infancy.

His father died, aged 57, in 1923 and mother died, aged 70, in 1938.

Grateful thanks are extended to Lynn Tibbs for sharing this emotive story with us.

We currently have no further information on Thomas Henry Pritchard, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.