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The Men Who Died
WORLD WAR ONE
William is born in 1899 in Builth to Margaret Ann Jones. In 1907 Margaret marries John Pritchard, a widower from Brecon.
(John is a brother of Arthur and Phillip and father of Alfred Pritchard who all feature on the Brecon Roll of Honour and in this book²¹. John had been married before but his first wife died in 1902.)
After their marriage in 1907, the family lived in 41, The Struet, Brecon and William attends Pendre School.
When he enlisted, William's address was in South Wales, suggesting he had probably left the family home. He was listed as William Pritchard on the 1911 Brecon Census but enlists as William Jones, probably having to lie about his age to do so. He joins the Queens (Royal West Surrey) Regiment serving in France. The 10th Battalion formed part of the 41st Division, 124th Brigade.
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See pages 151- 155
At the time of William's death, the 41st Division had just taken part in the Battle for Flers-Courcellette, a phase of the 1916 Battles of the Somme. A renewal of the offensive finally broke through the area that had proved to be so difficult since 14 July. Using a small number of tanks for the first time in history, the British Army finally captured High Wood and pressed on through Flers and up the Bapaume road to Courcelette.
The Brecon and Radnor Express report his death, listing him as a stepson of John Pritchard, who had already lost his son Alfred just nine months before.
Private William Jones (Pritchard)
Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 10th Battalion
service no. L/11213
Died of Wounds September 25th, 1916, aged 17
Buried at St Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France