Valentine Rhys Pritchard

He is recorded as R. Pritchard in the nominal roll, which may suggest he was known by his second name. His address is recorded in the roll as Poulner Hill, Ringwood but this is an error and relates to the family home of the man listed above John Probert of Ringwood A Patrol. In 1939 his occupation is recorded as a male nurse. He married Catherine Coffey in 1939.

From a diary record dictated by Valentine Rhys Pritchard in the early 90's, it would appear he served with Unit 203 at Avon Castle. During the War he lived at Matcham's House (until 1949). He worked for a Southampton based company, Montague L Meyers, timber merchants, whose London HQ had been moved / evacuated to Avon Castle. The CO was the Montague Meyers manager.

The diary says he trained with the Royal Engineers at Newbury, learning to handle grenades, explosives etc. He says he was issued with a Smith & Wesson .38 revolver, and explosives which he kept buried in our garden at Matcham's. They were also taught to use phosphorous bombs, which he said 'were dangerous'! His wife knew nothing of these activities

Before the war he served in the Army (Service No:3957884) from 1927-1936, spending some 10 months in Shanghai (Shanghai Defence Force) and 8 years 10 months in India as a Regimental Nursing Orderly - the NW Frontier as it was known then.