23517
PRITCHARD, Harold Kingsford
| Service Number: | 3448 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, January 1893 |
| Home Town: | Unley, Unley, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Commercial Traveller |
| Died: | Adelaide, South Australia, 3 September 1938, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
West Terrace Cemetery (AIF Section) Section: LO, Road: 3S, Site No: 44 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Gilles Street Primary School WW1 Honour Roll (New), Unley St. Augustine's Church Roll of Honour, Unley Town Hall WW1 Honour Board |
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From How We Served
3448 Sergeant Harold Kingsford Pritchard DCM, MM of Unley, South Australia had been employed as a clerk at the time of his enlistment for War Service on the 27th of July 1915 and was allocated to reinforcements for the 10th Battalion 1st AIF.
Shipped to Egypt for further training on the 27th of October, Harold was transferred over to the 50th Battalion following his arrival, and with this Unit he departed for France, arriving on the 12th of June 1916, and aside periods of sickness from which he recovered to re-enter the trenches, his service would be continuous.
Harold was recommended and awarded the Military Medal for his bravery in the field on the 2nd of April 1917, and again he was decorated for bravery on the 6th of September of the same year, which would see him awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
His citation for this second higher award reads as follows; - ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in charge of a fighting patrol. He led his man forward with the object of disposing snipers who were causing great annoyance. He in engaged them with his Lewis gun. Whilst he and another NCO crawled up to within rifle fire and either killed or forced the to retire. He also brought back valuable information which enabled us to push out forward posts’.
In the months after these acts of valour Harold was evacuated sick, and by the 24th of November he was in England receiving medical treatment for D.A.H. (Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage), often referred to as ‘soldiers’ heart’. Harold was deemed to be an invalid and was repatriated back to Australia, departing from England on the 20th of December 1917.
Having return to Australia Harold was officially discharged from the 1st AIF on the 9th of April 1918, and was re-entered into civilian life. Harold’s health had been greatly affected by his War Service and his untimely death at the age of 45 occurred on the 3rd of September 1938.
Following his passing Harold was formally laid to rest within West Terrace Cemetery, South Australia.
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