William Bridgett (Will) Pritchard

Rank:Lt. Colonel
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:01st [2] (East Lancs) Field Amb
Name of Rgt or Ship:Royal Army Medical Corps
Died:29/06/1915Age:46
How Died:Died of Wounds at Sea
Country of burial:Gallipoli
Cemetery or Memorial:Helles Memorial
Town Memorial:Not Listed
Extra Information:
Born during the Marchquarter 1868 in the Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c/670, the
son of William Bridgett & Lavinia Pritchard (nee Clarke).

1871 Census - 168 Oxford Street, Chorlton upon Medlock, Manchester.   Son -
aged: 3 - born: Manchester.   Head of household - William Bridcott (sic)
Pritchard - Married - aged: 38 - occ: Chiropodist (Salford Medical Service)
- born: Leeds, Yorkshire.    Also Lavinia Pritchard - Wife - aged: 29 -
born: Manchester.   Plus 3 siblings a maternal aunt and 2 domestic
servants.

1881 Census - 270 Oxford Street, Chorlton on Medlock, Manchester.   Son -
aged: 13 - Scholar - born: Manchester.   Head of household - William B.
Pritchard - Married - aged: 48 - occ: Chiropodist (Salford Medical Service)
- born: Leeds, Yorkshire.    Also Lavinia Pritchard - Wife - aged: 39 -
born: Manchester.   Plus 9 siblings and 2 domestic servants.

1891 Census - Assistant - aged: 23 - occ: Medical Practitioner - born:
Manchester.   Assistant to Charles Lawson Smithard.    His parents and
family are still residing at 270 Oxford Street, Manchester.

1901 Census - 272 Oxford Street, South Manchester (Nine roomed house).  
Head of household - Single - aged:  33 - occ: Surgeon, born: Manchester.  
Plus 1 visitor and 1 domestic servant.   His parents are still living at
270 Oxford Street, South Manchester.  His mother - Lavinia Pritchard died
later in 1901, aged: 60.

1911 Census - 272 Oxford Road, Chorlton on Medlock, Manchester.   Head of
household - Single - aged: 43 - occ: General Practitioner Medicine born:
Manchester.   Plus 2 domestic servants.    His father and remaining family
were residing at 296a Upper Brook Streeet, Chorlton upon Medlock until his
death in 1913, aged: 80.

The November 2016 edition of the R.A.M.C. United Newsletter carried the 
followiing article about him.   " He was the son of Alderman Pritchard 
Attended Manchester Grammar School, Owen's College and later at Manchester
University.  Gained his M.R.C.S. in 1900, his D.P.H. in 1912 and his M.D.
in 1914.  He was an anaethetist by speciality.   He spent some time woring
for the Ocean Steamship Comany on their China Station, but was later
employed at the Manchester Eye and Ear Hospital.  Before the outbreak of
the War he was working at Christies Hospital (at the time called the Cancer
Pavilion Manchester), and also at Victoria Dental Hospital in Manchester. A
member of the Royal College of Surgeons, he was also a keen member of the
Mason`s and was Master of Mason`s Lodge No. 2322.  He was also tireless in
his charity work for Wood Street Mission, work that earned him the George V
Coronation Medal.   An enthusiastic member of the Volunteers since the turn
of the Century, by 1914 he was a Lieutenant Colonel in command of a
Territorial Unit, the 1/2nd East Lancashire Field  Ambulance.  His two
brothers Major Henry Washington Pritchard and Captain S. Pritchard served
under him in the same unit. Their Field Ambulance went on active service
with the 42nd East Lancashire Division in September 1914 going first to
Egypt, then to Gallipoli.   It was here on 24th June 1915 at around 4
o`clock in the 
afternoon while he was inspecting a forward dressing station that William
was hit by shell fire and seriously wounded.  His brother Henry was 
standing next to him at the time and treated his injured brother before
evacuating him from the beachhead aboard the Hospital Ship HS Somali. 
However five days later on 29th June 1915 his wounds proved fatal and he
died while on route to a Base Hospital on Malta. He was buried at sea aged
47 years old. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial at Gallipoli, and
by a plaque to his memory in Manchester Royal Infirmary. 

His will was proved at the Principal Registry Office (London) on the 10th
March 1916.   Death Duties amounted to £71. 4s. 1d and his Estate was to
be distributed to his four sisters.

Memorials found on:
Royal Army Medical Corps HQ
Manchester Grammar School
Manchester University
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