49261 Rifleman James Alfred Prictor, (21/7/1887-28/3/1918). "enemy strongly entrenched"

FOR THE EMPIRE'S CAUSE

DEATHS

PRICTOR. — On 23th March, 1918 (killed in action somewhere in France), Rifleman James Alfred Prictor (26th Reinforcements), second son of the late Walter Prictor, Dunedin.  -Evening Star, 20/4/1918.

Private James Alfred Prictor, killed in action in France on March 28, was the second son of the late Mr Walter Prictor, of Dunedin. Private Prictor was twenty-seven years of age. He was born at Auckland and educated at the George Street School, Dunedin. On leaving school he was employed by Messrs P. Hayman and Co., and remained with them in Dunedin and Invercargill until he left for the front with the Twenty-sixth Reinforcements.   -Lyttelton Times, 20/4/1918.

James Prictor served with "B" Company, 3rd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade.  The day that he died was at a crucial period of the war for both sides on the Western Front.  It was the high tide of the German Spring offensive, and both sides were giving all they had. "B" Company is mentioned in the following paragraph from the Rifles' Official History: "At 11.30 a.m. Lieut.-Col. Beere received the expected orders for an attack at 4 p.m., with the object of pushing the enemy off the high ground and establishing touch with the 3rd Battalion, whose front line troops were to assist by bombing southwards. Little artillery support was available, and the covering barrage was feeble. The attack was made by "B" Company on the right and "A" on the left, "D" Company moving back into the reserve position. The right of "B" Company was successful in gaining the objective on the crest, but its left flank was held up by the enemy strongly entrenched about the huge timber dump. Here, however, a platoon established a post in one of the old gun-pits. The left company made similar progress, the two platoons on its inner flank being held up, and the remainder gaining the ridge, but the machine-gun fire had been so fierce that when the objective was reached only two officers and twelve men were left. This small party was confronted by fifty Germans fighting fiercely to retain their hold on the trench. The enemy were driven out, however, and no fewer than six machine-guns and two Lewis guns were captured."

 

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.