Captain Thomas James Prichard M.C.

Captain Thomas James Prichard M.C.

Identification

There was only one result for T J Prichard in the CWGC database and it gave the 'other information' that he was from Liverpool.  A further confirmation that it is the correct person is the M.C. which is noted on the memorial and the CWGC entry.

Family information

Thomas James Prichard was born in Liverpool on 17th July 1894. He was baptised in St Cleopas' Church, Toxteth, on 8th August and the baptism record shows that his parents were Thomas and Elizabeth Jane Prichard and they lived at 6 Madeline St. Thomas was a Clerk.

In the 1911 census Thomas and Elizabeth Jane Prichard were living at 45 Tennyson St, Liverpool with their 6 children and Elizabeth's mother, Isabella Holden.

Thomas James was their eldest child, in this census he was 16 years old and working as a junior clerk in a shipping company office. His father was a bookkeeper in a fruit broker’s office. We know that Thomas James went on to work at the White Star Line company and was an employee of the company at the time of the Titanic disaster.

Military information

Thomas Prichard has an entry in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, transcribed here:

PRICHARD, THOMAS JAMES, M.C. Capt., 1^st Battn. (4^th Foot) The King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regt) elder s. of Thomas Prichard of Prince’s Park, Liverpool, by his wife Elizabeth J., dau of Thomas Holden; b Liverpool co. Lancaster, 17^th July 1894; educ Liverpool Institute, where he was a member of the O.T.C.; entered the service of the White Star Line in 1910 while continuing his military training in the 6^th (Territorial) Battn. The King’s Liverpool Regt. Volunteered for active service on the outbreak of war and was attached to the Army Cyclist’s Corps; was gazetted 2^nd Lieut. The South Lancashire Regt 18 Sept 1915; promoted Lieut 1 July 1917 and Capt 19 Oct of the same year. Served with the Expeditionary Force in France from May 1916, being transferred to the King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regt) 28^th March 1916, and was killed in action near Arras 28^th March 1918. Buried at Fampoux. His commanding officer wrote: “He was killed while gallantly leading his men in action. Thanks however to the impetus he had given his men, the gap was filled and the line held by his company for the remainder of that day and the next until they were relieved.” and a brother officer: “He was almost worshipped by the men, who admired his wonderful quiet bravery under fire, his untiring energy out of the line in doing all he could to entertain and provide comforts, and his never-changing fairness to everyone and fearlessness in playing the game.” The White Star Line, in an appreciation of the deceased officer also wrote: “His death at the early age of 23 removes one who, in the short period he was destined to serve in the White Star Line, gave promise of attaining the same honourable position in the world of commerce that he achieved in the Army. Essentially thorough in all he did and gifted with an unerring memory, his somewhat serious manner covered a dry sense of humour which, coupled with a generous and amiable disposition, endeared him alike for ability and character to his colleagues.” He was awarded the M.C. (London Gazette 1 June 1917) for special bravery and coolness in an attack by a hostile patrol, and was twice mentioned in dispatches (London Gazettes 4 Jan and 22 May 1917) by F.M. Sir Douglas Haig for gallant and distinguished service in the field; unm.

The medal rolls entry for Captain T. J. Prichard M.C. shows that he was eligible for the Victory Medal and the British War Medal with the oak leaves emblem to show he was mentioned in despatches, he would also have received a certificate for each mention.

The medal index card shows that his father applied for his medals in 1922 and gave his address as 45 Tennyson Road.

Death and Commemoration

Captain Thomas J Prichard was killed in action on 28^th March 1918, aged 23. The fact of his death was noted in the war diary (below) but no details.

28/3/1918 In Trenches

Enemy attack N of R Scarpe, Battn occupied MISSOURI, STOKE & LOGIC trenches. Captain Pritchard killed. 2/Lts Murray, Frances, McCartney and McPhereson wounded. ESSEX lost heavily, 2^nd Lancs Fus and 1^st K.O. only left in Bde. Two Battn HQ in old Bde HQ LEMON TRENCH. Battn lost about 70 casualties in O.R.

29-31^st In the line. Battalion heavily shelled on 29^th.

There is not much information about him in UK Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919

Name:	Thomas James Prichard
Death Date:	28 Mar 1918
Rank:	Temp Captain
Regiment:	King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
Battalion:	1st Battalion
Decoration:	MC
Type of Casualty:	Killed in action

Thomas J Prichard was also commemorated on a plaque at his old school, The Liverpool Institute, this memorial was dismantled in the 1980s and lost then recovered, restored and rededicated on the original site (now part of  Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts) click here to go to the Liverpool Institute Old Boys website which has information and pictures of the rededication.

Captain Thomas J Prichard was buried in a small military cemetery. Fortunately his grave marker survived until his body was exhumed after the war and he was reburied in Piont du Jour Military Cemetery, Athies in grave II.D.21. Other soldiers buried near him were unidentified and are now only ‘Known Unto God’.

His family chose to have the following inscription added to his headstone:

The Lord gave, The Lord hath taken away, Blessed be His name.

Click here to see the CWGC database entry for Thomas James Prichard M.C.

Probate and soldiers’ effects records show that Thomas J Prichard left his effects to his father.

Private Norman Bracher 358365

Norman Bracher

Identification

There was only one entry for an N Bracher in the CWGC database and this soldier was from Liverpool so I am confident that it is the right person.

Family Information

Norman Bracher was born in Liverpool on 2nd June 1898 (as shown on his baptism record) He was baptised 10th July the same year in the Church of St Margaret, Toxteth Park. His parents were John Edward and Elizabeth Alma of 62 Egerton St and John Edward's occupation was racquet maker.

The 1901 census return shows they were still living at 62 Egerton St with a total of 8 children, two were listed as John’s step-sons so it would appear that Elizabeth had been married before. John Edward (who was born in London) was now employed as a 'Club Hall Porter'

In the 1911 census the family were living at 86 Berkley St, Elizabeth Alma was listed as Alma Elizabeth and Norman was aged 12 and at school, we know that he attended Granby Street School. John Edward was working as a Hall Porter in a Racquet Club

Norman Bracher was a keen cricketer, he represented his school in three ‘A’ Division cricket finals and in three baseball finals. He was also a skilled footballer.  The sports section of the Liverpool Echo shows an N Bracher playing cricket for St James Lorretonians.

[The Racquet Club opened in 1877 at 102 Upper Parliament Street, it differed from other Gentlemen's Clubs in that it provided sports facilities as well as the usual social club.  It had two Racquets Courts and an American Bowling Alley, a dining room and billiards room. All available for an annual subscription of 5 Guineas. Between 1894 and 1896, the dining room was enlarged again; a new private room was added, new kitchens and electric lighting. At the same time the Bowling Alley was converted into two fives courts - one Eton and one Rugby but by the turn of the century the Rugby Fives court was being used as a squash court. A covered lawn tennis court with sprung wooden floor was added in 1913. The Racquet Club continued here until the building was destroyed by fire in the riots of 1981]

Military Information

Norman Bracher's medal card shows that he was a private in the Liverpool Regiment with the regimental number 358365. He received the victory medal and the British War Medal, the other sections of the card are blank.

His entry in UK SOLDIERS DIED IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919 gives the following information:

Name: Norman Bracher Birth Place: Liverpool Residence: Liverpool Death Date: 15 Jul 1917 Death Location: France & Flanders Enlistment Location: Liverpool Rank: Private Regiment: King's (Liverpool Regiment) Battalion: 10th Battalion Number: 358365 Type of Casualty: Died of wounds Theatre of War: Western European Theatre The 10th battalion were the Liverpool Scottish but at the time of his death, Norman Bracher was attached to the 6th Camerons. The battalion history for the Cameron Highlanders shows that on the night of the 12/13th July, the Germans launched 1000 shells of mustard gas into Ypres. Some of the shells hit a convent where “C” company of 6th Camerons was billeted. Almost 200 men were affected, one officer and 36 men later died. It seems very likely that Norman was one of the men affected by the gas who died at a nearby clearing station.  The 4th, 47th and 21st casualty clearing stations were near Poperinghe, site of the gas attack. Commemoration Norman’s name was inscribed on the Granby St School Memorial (currently not on display) and on the St James memorial (stolen and destroyed). In 2012 the St James War Memorial Project had his name added to the Liverpool Town Hall, Hall of Remembrance. Norman’s family placed the following notices in the Echo: 27th , 28th and 30th July 1917 BRACHER – July 1915, died of gas poisoning in casualty clearing station, aged 19 years, Private Norman (Norrie) Bracher, K.L.R. (attached Camerons) dearly-beloved youngest son of John and Alma Bracher, 86, Berkley-street. “His duty nobly done”. 15th July 1918 BRACHER – In sad but loving memory of our dear son Norman (Norrie), K.L.R., attached Camerons, who died of wounds in France, July 15th 1917. – Never forgotten by his loving Mother, Father, Sisters and Brothers, also Jack, George and Alick serving with the colours – 86, Berkley-street, Liverpool. Duty nobly done. Norman Bracher is buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium in grave I.C.18 Click here to view Norman Bracher's entry in the CWGC website.  Dozinghem Military Cemetery (copyright CWGC)

Breakthrough!

Yesterday I was at the King's Regiment Family History Day at the Museum of Liverpool, I had a great day, met some relatives of men from my memorial and helped a few people with their enquiries (but wasn't very good at getting contact details so please do get in touch if I gave you my card!)

The breakthrough came about thanks to the amazing work done by Kathy D, she has spent I don't know how many hours indexing wounded and casualty lists and digging up resources from all over the place to collate a huge amount of information in her databases. Without her hard work and the amazing database she is creating, the following connection couldn't have been made...

The only name on my memorial that I had drawn a complete blank with was Thomas Girvin. There just wasn't anyone of that name in the area, Kathy had a look in her database and found Thomas Lindburg who died of wounds, and his mother was listed as Girvin. Could it be my man? Kathy searched about a bit more for me and found that in the 1911 census Thomas Lindburg lived practically over the road from St James Church with his mother Harriet Girvin and her husband. I'm still searching about to figure out the strange dynamics of this family but I am confident that this is the right soldier. The 1911 census claims Harriet was married the year after Thomas was born, so it is conceivable that he was known as Thomas Girvin but his family used his official name on forms and he used it to enlist in the army.

There is a link to Kathy's website "Liverpool Soldiers" on the Links and Resources page.