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.

Al

I may be totally wrong but I was under the impression that that reunion was for those who embarked with the Battalion in December 1915 when it first went overseas. David John Pritchard joined them much later as shown by John in post 2 plus fact there are no 61XXX men shown as casualties prior to 61338 E Jones on 4/8/1917.* see edit


There was a booklet about that reunion on EBay recently. IIRC it gave names and address of attendees. I missed out on it. Hopefully it's gone to someone on here!
I have a framed photo of the whole battalion taken in a muddy field Southern England just before emabarkation in 1915.


David
I'd be interested to know the Battalions of the other two on that page please.


Hywyn

edit: looked again. 61488 E Morgan 31/7/1917

If you discover more information, David, please remember to share it here with us.

John

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gwilwil

Al

I may be totally wrong but I was under the impression that that reunion was for those who embarked with the Battalion in December 1915 when it first went overseas. David John Pritchard joined them much later as shown by John in post 2 plus fact there are no 61XXX men shown as casualties prior to 61338 E Jones on 4/8/1917.* see edit


There was a booklet about that reunion on EBay recently. IIRC it gave names and address of attendees. I missed out on it. Hopefully it's gone to someone on here!
I have a framed photo of the whole battalion taken in a muddy field Southern England just before emabarkation in 1915.

---

Yes Hywyn you might be wrong! I don't know.

The picture states " Reunion of the 14th Service Battn Royal Welsh Fusiliers; Llandinam 30th July-4th August 1937". It would seem a strange way to organise a reunion, with potentially guys who joined after the 1915 Embarkation, but fought at Mametz, being excluded!! Its possible, but nothing is stated on the picture, which is all I have to go on.

Someone mentioned to me that Lord Davies held a few reunions. I would be interested in following up on that ebay book. If the owner could be tracked, he/she may provide the list of names.

I've also just noticed an article in The Vault, attributed to me!!! with the strapline:

"Survivors of "A" Company, 14th Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers 1st December, 1915, at a reunion meeting at Llandinam, 4 August, 1937" That was not written by me, but perhaps the author of those words has more info?

Al

I think that the item you've found in the Vault is what gave me that impression!

I'm not an EBay buff but I wonder if any forum members who know the ins and outs of it could find the booklet it in their archives? Also,it's not going to be the the only one so there may be one at the RWF archives if any of their staff could tell us.. Unpacking at Wrexham starts next week I believe.

Good point about the Mametz men etc who joined after that initial embarkation.

Hywyn
(I'm unnerved about possibly being wrong. I remember it happening once before in the 70s. Took me months to get over it!!:laugh:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gwilwil

Al

I may be totally wrong but I was under the impression that that reunion was for those who embarked with the Battalion in December 1915 when it first went overseas. David John Pritchard joined them much later as shown by John in post 2 plus fact there are no 61XXX men shown as casualties prior to 61338 E Jones on 4/8/1917.* see edit


There was a booklet about that reunion on EBay recently. IIRC it gave names and address of attendees. I missed out on it. Hopefully it's gone to someone on here!
I have a framed photo of the whole battalion taken in a muddy field Southern England just before emabarkation in 1915.


David
I'd be interested to know the Battalions of the other two on that page please.


Hywyn

edit: looked again. 61488 E Morgan 31/7/1917

---

Hi Hywyn

I've just sent a PM with the details, together with my email address. If drop me a note, I'll attach the .pdf files I have.

Regards

David

Hi David, small world, good to see you on here too

its good to see you searching too


speak soon
Lyndon Pritchard (Normans son)