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Jul 5, 1896
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Born in Liverpool, England to
Samuel Pritchard
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Feb 15, 1907
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Embarked the SS Victorian in
Liverpool, England under the care of the Liverpool Sheltering Home run by
Mrs. Birt
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Feb 24, 1907
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Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia
and proceeded to the Louisa Birt Home for destitute children in Knowlton,
Quebec
His brother, Herbert, followed a year
later and was sent to the same home in Knowlton, Quebec. Herbert was later listed as living in
Eganville, Ontario
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Jun 15, 1911
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The 1911 Census shows Joseph living
in North Renfrew, Ontario with James and Matilda Mills as a domestic
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Oct 12, 1916
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Attested into the 240th
Battalion CEF in Renfrew, Ontario
Ø Number 1042202
Ø Next of kin given
as Herbert Pritchard, brother, 130th Battalion CEF, number 788629. He was later transferred to the 64th
Battalion
o Next of kin was
later changed to read Nelson Sparling, friend, Wilberforce, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation
given as Labourer
Ø No previous
military experience given
Ø Religion given as
Church of England
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May 3, 1917
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Embarked the SS Megantic in
Halifax, Nova Scotia
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May 14, 1917
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Disembarked in Liverpool,
England and the battalion proceeded to Seaford where he was absorbed into the
7th Reserve Battalion to continue training
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Sep 12, 1917
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Transferred to the 21st
Battalion
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Sep 13, 1917
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Arrived at the No. 2 CIBD
(Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France as part of a draft of 42
reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st
Battalion
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Sep 26, 1917
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After leaving the base depot,
Private Pritchard joined the CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in
Villers au Bois, France
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Nov 9, 1917
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After leaving the
reinforcement camp he joined the 21st Battalion on the
Passchendaele front and was assigned to “C” Company
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Nov 26, 1917
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Admitted to the No. 4 CFA
(Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads ICT Legs (Inter-Connective
Tissue) infection, most likely caused by the unsanitary conditions in the
trenches. He was transferred the same
day to the No. 6 CFA
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Dec 3, 1917
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Discharged to duty from the
field ambulance.
Later the same day he was
re-admitted to the No. 6 CFA with accidental burns to his shoulder
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Dec 10, 1917
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Discharged to duty with the CC
Rein C from the field ambulance
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Feb 8, 1918
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After leaving from the
reinforcement camp, Private Pritchard re-joined the 21st Battalion
in the Hills Camp near Camblain L’Abbe, France
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May 15, 1918
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Reported to be AWL (Absent
Without Leave)
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May 16, 1918
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Taken into custody and charged
with Desertion
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May 21, 1918
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Tried by Field General Court
Martial and found not guilty of Desertion, but guilty of Absence Without
Leave. He was sentenced to 42 days of
Field Punishment No. 1. Upon review this
was reduced to 28 days Field Punishment No. 1. He also forfeited 2 days pay under a Royal
Warrant for his absence
It should be noted that the
battalion was in the front line trenches near Mercatel, France when he went
AWL
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Aug 8, 1918
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During the battalion’s advance
on the town of Marcelcave, France, Private Pritchard was first reported to be
missing in action, but it was later determined that he had been killed by
machine gun fire. He was buried a
short time after in the Crucifix Corner Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux, France
Following the war, the British
War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to
his brother, Herbert Pritchard, c/o C.B. St. George, Sprucedale, Ontario
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