2nd Lieutenant George Edgar Kenyon Pritchett

Born in 1891, George Edgar Kenyon Pritchett was the eldest child of George Pritchett and his wife Ada. The couple also had three younger sons, Clifford, Horace and Francis. George Junior came to be known as “Edgar,” to distinguish him from his father. His third name “Kenyon” was his mother’s maiden name. Originally from Cowes on the Isle of Wight, George senior was a Baker and Confectioner. He and his family were living at 134, Merton Road, Wimbledon when his first child was born. However by 1901 they had moved to 141 Merton Road, where George senior also established a cycle-making firm with several employees. By 1911 he was officially classed as a Cycle Manufacturer.

Edgar was educated at Rutlish School, Merton Park, before starting work as a clerk. He continued to live at the family home until his early 20s. Edgar volunteered for military service in September 1914 and joined the 2/4th City of London Battalion, part of the Royal Fusiliers. His unit was sent to Malta in December, undertaking further training and guarding POWs. From 24 August 1915 the 2/4th was sent to Egypt as a Service Battalion, before heading for three months of harsh trench warfare as part of the Gallipoli campaign. The men were then sent back to Egypt where they helped to guard the Nile and strategically important bridges from rebel attack. From 24 April 1916 the battalion was transferred to the Western front.

The 2/4th City of London battalion was disbanded in June 1916, possibly due to casualty figures. Like many of the original members, Edgar is likely to have been transferred to the 1/4th battalion which fought at Gommecourt on the first day of the Battle of the Somme ( 1 July 1916. ) Their aim was to outflank the 2nd German Army but heavy casualties were inflicted by enemy howitzer fire.

We cannot be certain of Edgar’s whereabouts in the following months but the 1/4th are known to have fought with distinction at the Battles of Ginchy, Flers-Courcelette and Le Transloy between September 1916 and March 1917.

By 24 April 1917 Edgar was serving with the 18th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers and had been commissioned as a second lieutenant. His unit had been involved in the pursuit of the German retreat to the Hindenburg line ( 14 March – 5 April 1917,) and later fought in the Battle of Passchendaele. The men saw action at the first Battle of Bapaume in April 1918 and by 1 June 1918 they were fighting in Aveluy Wood on the Somme. The battalion secured all of its campaign objectives and captured a number of prisoners, however Edgar received 4 bullet wounds whilst leading the attack.

Edgar Pritchett was treated at the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital in Doullens but died of wounds on June 3rd 1918. The German advances of Spring 1918 resulted in so many Allied casualties that the local cemetery was full. Edgar was one of many servicemen buried in a 2nd extension at the Doullens Communal Cemetery, north of Amiens on the road to Arras. His parents added an epitaph to his headstone –“A loving son, brave soldier and true comrade”