PRITCHARD, James

James Pritchard was the son of James and Hannah Pritchard of 39 John Street, Blackheath. He was allocated to the Training Reserve and, probably when the German Spring Offensives threatened in 1918, was sent to the 1st Battalion of the Dublin Fusiliers in the 16th Irish Division. They were facing the first great attack which opened on the 21st March and driven back over the old Somme battlefield with a huge number of casualties. Among them was Private James Pritchard who was killed in action on the 29th March 1918. He was 20 years of age and is commemorated on the Pozičres, Blackheath and Halesowen Memorials.