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While exploring some of the prominent families of Radnorshire during the Victorian period, I came across the Prickard family.
The first member of the family that came to my attention was the youngest son of Reverend William Edward and Maria Georgiana Prickard, 2nd Lieutenant Gerald Thornton Prickard who was killed in action at Gallipoli in 1915 while serving with the South Wales Borderers. He is commemorated on the war memorial situated on the crossroads in the centre of Rhayader, Radnorshire, Wales along with his comrades in arms who fell in both world wars.
Further investigation found that the eldest of the male children of the family was Harry born in London, Middlesex on 29th April 1866.
The 1871 Census finds the family living at Hillsboro Terrace, Ilfracombe, Barnstaple, Devon and comprising of: parents William and Maria, Harry(4), Mary E F(3), Emily G(2), Camilla M(0) and servants Ann Williams and Ann Arthur.
As with all young gentlemen of this period, Harry was sent to boarding school as confirmed by the Census of 1881 which records Harry as a boarder at Winchester School, Winchester, Hampshire, England. Meanwhile, the family had moved to Dderw, near Rhayader, Radnorshire where the head of the family, William was appointed the Rector of Disserth.
On leaving Winchester School, Harry continued with his education at Oriel College, Oxford and eventually opted for a military career being mentioned in the London Gazette of 10th February 1888 as receiving a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Prince of Wales North Staffordshire Regiment. He was promoted to Lieutenant in March 1890 and Captain in February 1896. He served in operations in Zululand in 1888 and accompanied his battalion to the conflict in South Africa in January 1900.
Harry's war would be a short one, as the deadly disease of enteric fever, which had no respect of rank nor upbringing, took his life on May 12th 1900 at Bloemfontein.
His final resting place is at President Avenue, Bloemfontein.
Here he is commemorated on monument 1. He is also remembered at College Cloisters, Kingsgate Street, Winchester and on plaque 2, Lichfield Cathedral,
Staffordshire.
He is not to be found on the national South African War Memorial at Cathays Park, Cardiff as he was not a Welshman.
His record of probate reveals a very substantial amount in his estate of £2099 3 shillings and 8 pence.
For his service in South Africa, Harry Seddon Prickard was entitled to the Queen's South Africa medal with clasps Relief of Kimberley and Transvaal (medal roll WO100/199).

To lose their eldest son during the Anglo Boer War must have been a bitter blow to the family. Then fate dealt another cruel blow with the loss of Gerald at Gallipoli. A fate suffered by so many other families, rich and poor during those troubled years.

Pres Brand Cemetery Bloemfontein

Lichfield Cathedral Staffordshire

Winchester College, Hampshire

Royal Memorial Chapel, RMA Sandhurst, Camberley, Surrey Heath Borough, Surrey, England.