In memory of William John Pritchard
William John Pritchard was one of the sons of Hugh and Margaret Pritchard, of “Sabrina”, Pwllheli. The house was named after the schooner which Hugh had captained for many years before setting up a leather trade at Pwllheli and subsequently working for 16 years as the town’s overseer, collecting taxes for Pwllheli Corporation. The family attended Salem chapel.
William had a sister Mary and three brothers, Hugh, David Charles and William. Hugh, a solicitor, was elected Liberal county councillor for South Pwllheli in February 1914. His father died, aged 82, a few hours after the election result was announced.
After graduating from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, William joined the London City & Midland Bank, working for five years in Conwy and 11 years in Birmingham.
He enlisted in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and was wounded so severely at the front that he was not expected to live. However, by early 1917 he was well enough to re-enter the fray. Soon after arriving at the Western Front in Belgium, he was wounded by a shell blast and died on 14 February. He was 33 years old. He is buried at Menin Road South Military Cemetery, near Ypres.
In the same month his brother David Charles Pritchard, who had spent seven months on the front in the Somme region, returned to Britain to receive be commissioned as an officer.
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