William Owen Pritchard was born in Henllan, Denbighshire, North Wales in 1888.

The 1911 Census shows that the family lived at Boderw, Sisson Street, Rhyl, Flintshire, North Wales.  The head of the family was Hugh Pritchard aged 46, who was employed as Grocer’s Carter. His wife Elizabeth Pritchard aged 48 and their five children – William Owen Pritchard aged 23, a Baker, John Evans Pritchard aged 20, a Shop Assistant, Louisa Sarah Pritchard aged 17, a General Domestic Servant, Gwendoline Pritchard aged 14 and Margaret Ellen Pritchard aged 7 years.

William enlisted at one of the Recruitment Centres in Manchester, England with 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards.

Guardsman William Owen Pritchard

Rhyl Journel Saturday 5 August 1916. – The Casualty Lists.

Mr & Mrs Pritchard, Boderw, Sisson Street, Rhyl have received the sad news that their eldest son, William Owen Pritchard aged 29 years. was killed in action in Flanders on July 18th.  He was for several years employed by Mr C R Jones a Grocer.  He joined the Welsh Guards soon after the outbreak of the war.

The Chronicle 18th August 1916

He is also remembered on a Remembrance Plaque at The Royal Alexandra Hospital, Marine Drive, Rhyl, Flintshire and the North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, North Wales.

There is a Flintshire Roll of Honour Card for William Owen Pritchard at the County Archives, Hawarden, Flintshire, which was completed on 16 September 1919 and signed J. Williams.

Photograph taken by Winston Ellis on 16th April 2016. Flintshire War Memorials Battle sites Tour