Pvte David John Pritchard 61461 (Efail Fach, Pontrhydyfen)

Hi all. I'm trying to do a bit of research in to my grandfather's service history with the RWF during WW1. I was priviliged to inherit both his Victory and Great War medals a few years back.

I also have his New Testament which he evidently took with him, but it has a number of pages missing or torn. The first page has some partial details though and reads:

"David John Pritchard
RWF
61461
<WORD missing>(word missing) A Draft
<WORD missing>(word missing) Base Depot
BEF
France"

It is dated 22/8/17. I've tried the National Archives site and have a copy of his medal card confirming the medals being issued, but the "Theatre of War" and "date of entry therein" sections are blank. I've also tried the Ancestry website, but with no joy. Any information would be gratefully received. Thanks, David.

Privates TH Austin 61361 and S Baker 61471 both landed in France on 05/07/1917. Chances are that your grandfather arrived at the same time. He would then have gone to the Infantry Base Depot at Etaples for a week or ten days or so. Where he went from there is anybody's guess, I can only say with reasonable certainty that he did not go to either of the Regular battalions..


Hope this helps.

John

Thanks for the swift reply, John. That's really appreciated.

Regards

David

As John has already stated, difficult to place a man in this number block. I have looked either side and have a number of 1st Bn chaps, as well as 14th, 13th & 16th. Also quite a few chaps transferred out of the RWF into other regiments (mostly SWB)

Might be an idea to get a copy of the page from the medal roll book at the National Archives.

Richard

Thanks, Richard. The writing on the medal card is not that clear, but it looks like "J/2/102/32D" or "J/2/102B2D" under the roll column and "7612" or "76/2" under the page column. Does that make any sense? I'll try the National Archives in the morning though.

Kind regards

David

I think I might have answered my own question, having tried different variations on the National Archives website. Will keep you posted!

Regards

David

All

I've managed to get a copy of Medal roll page. It says "14/R.W. Fus" so that narrows it the 14th Battalion. Now at a slight loss as to where to go.

Also, I am happy to share the page as it has information on two other soldiers which might help others researching.

David

Knowing his unit and the rough date he reached France means that you could look up what they were doing from then onwards in the 14th RWF's War Diary.

There will be a copy at the National Archives, Kew; at the Regimental Museum in Caernarfon Castle; and a manuscript version at the University College Bangor archives.

Additionally, there are C.H.Dudley Ward's Regimental Records of the RWF (vol. 3), and Munby's History of the 38th (Welsh) Division. both of these have been reprinted in recent years and can be had from Naval and Military Press and other outlets.

Thanks, Clive. The advice is really appreciated. I'll follow it up accordingly.

Best wishes and a Happy New Year to all on the forum.

David

Hi David,
I have an excellent photo of the 14th Bn taken at a reunion in the 1930s at Lord Davies ancestral home in Mid Wales. Its split into 3 segments,
all the guys individual faces can be seen, there is probably a hundred or so featured. If you would like a copy, PM me your email address. We
would be interested in knowing if you can identify him.