Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward and Margaret Pritchard and the husband of Emma Louisa Prichard. The 1911 census records for 12, Leicester Lane, Great Bowden, Leics. Edward Pritchard, head of the family and married for 33 years, a Labourer, born 1853 in St. John's, Newfoundland and his wife Margaret, born 1859 in Clipstone, Northants., also John Edward, son, single and a Railway Labourer, born 1881 in North Kilworth, Leics., Harry, son, single and a Railway Labourer, born 1887, George, son, single and a Brewers Labourer, born 1892, Albert, son, born 1897, Maggie, daughter, born 1902, Louisa, daughter, born 1902, Fred, son, born 1904 and May, daughter, born 1905, the latter seven children were all born in Great Bowden, Leics. His younger brother James also fell in action. The War diary entry for the period 25th to the 30th Sptember records. BERNAFAY WOOD. The Battalion moved up to assembly trenches at 4.00am, 25th September, leaving behind 60 men to act as carriers.
The operations from the 25th to the 29th September 1916 appended.
OPERATIONS ON THE SOMME FROM 25th September to the 30th September 1916. Appendix II.
25th September. The Battalion started from BERNAFAY WOOD at 4.00am, marched through DELVILLE WOOD, and occupied trenches as follows by 6.00am. HQ and D Company SWITCH TRENCH, A, B and C Companies assembly trenches behind SWITCH TRENCH. The Battalion remained in these trenches till 1.00pm. (zero being 12.25pm). At 1.00pm D and C Companies advanced across the open to follow up and occupy trenches vacated by the 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. as they advanced, and to support and reinforce them in case of necessity. Two platoons of D Company and two platoons of C Company reinforced the 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. when they were attacked by enemy machine guns in GIRD TRENCH, and they had a good many casualties from these machine guns, Major H. H. EMMERSON (Officer Commanding C Company) being killed, and Captain QUAYLE (Officer Commanding D Company) wounded. At 2.00pm HQ and A and B Companies advanced in artillery formation, as wounded men stated that the 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. were in the village. Battalion HQ were established in BULL ROAD TRENCH, and the Battalion was disposed as follows:- Two platoons of D Company in PIONEER TRENCH, with oddments of 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. A Company and the remainder of C and D Companies in BULL ROAD TRENCH. B Company in BULL ROAD support. They remained in these positions during the night of 25th/26th, and these trenches were very heavily shelled during the night.
26th September. The Battalion advanced at 4.30pm preceded by patrols to take the final objective on the northern and eastern outskirts of GUEDECOURT. The barrage was fairly heavy and some few casualties took place. The leading platoons entered the village about 6.30pm and the village was not then being shelled by the enemy. No enemy were encountered in the southern portion of village, but the leading platoons, on reaching the LESBOEUFS-FACTORY CORNER ROAD through village, were heavily sniped and fired at by enemy machine guns. They held on to this line till dusk, when they were at once reinforced by the other platoons, and moved forward with very slight casualties to the orchards on the northern and eastern outskirts of village, and began consolidating. This was continued throughout the night with very slight molestation from enemy. The village itself and approaches to it, and especially its south western edge were, however, very heavily shelled. HQ were established at N.26.d.2.8. Touch was established with 62nd Infantry Brigade on the right at N.27.a.5.0., but it was till the morning of the 27th that connection was gained with the 55th Division on the left.
27th September. Consolidation was continued as far as possible by daylight, and during the night the posts on the northern edge were connected up. There was a certain amount of sniping, but the trenches were not heavily shelled. The village itself, and approaches to it were heavily shelled but very few casualties were sustained, as no troops were in the village.
28th September. Situation remained the same. At midnight a strong patrol under 2nd Lt. J. B. GARNER and a party of Pioneers went out to GARDEN TRENCH, and made a small post with blocks on either side to deny its occupation by the enemy.
29th September. Situation same. At 9.00pm the Battalion was relieved by the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. The relief was complete by 11.30pm. A certain number of casualties were caused to both Battalion’s by enemy’s bombardment of village and its approaches.
30th September. The Battalion returned to its former bivouac near BERNAFAY WOOD, arriving there at 1.00am. The casualties suffered by the Battalion during these operations, were as follows:-
Officers killed Major H. H. EMMERSON, Captain G. M. G. GILLETT, 2nd Lt. W. E. ROBINSON. Officers wounded Captain G. A. QUAYLE, Lt. A. V. DAGG, Lt. F. WOOLNOUGH, 2nd Lt’s. A. C. NICHOLLS, C. H. HIGSON, A. M. DIXON, E. G. LANE–ROBERTS, E. J. HODGSON, F. GILDING and G. H. BOWEN. Other ranks killed 32, missing 25 and wounded 141.