Dedicated to the memory of all the men and women of the South Staffordshire area who died during the two World Wars.
Pryce Henry Griffiths was born at Lydham nr. Bishops Castle, Shropshire, in 1894. He was the son of Richard Griffiths, a farm bailiff, and his wife Harriet. By 1901 the family had moved to Cosford Grange, Albrighton and, by 1911, to Edgland, Longnor (in the parish of Lapley). Pryce worked as a farm labourer, by 1914 he was living in Trefor, Montgomeryshire, where he worked as a farm waggoner.
Soon after the outbreak of war, Pryce volunteered to serve in the army. On 24th October, 1914 he was embodied into the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry. Although he had volunteered for overseas service, it was not until December 1916 that he was transferred to the 1/4th Royal Welch Fusiliers, a pioneer battalion, and sent to France.
On 21st June, 1917, Pryce was wounded - a gunshot wound in his forearm. The 1/4 RWF was in a pioneer camp near Ypres working on the roads so Pryce was probably wounded by a sniper. The wound was not serious - he was back with his unit before the week was out.
Pryce was killed in action on 21st March 1918 - the opening day of the German Spring Offensive. The 1/4 RWF were at Metz. Although the battalion war diary records a heavy enemy bombardment that lasted all day and night it appears that Pryce was the battalion's only fatality. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
Pryce Henry Griffiths, 202883, was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. His younger brother George Griffiths is also commemorated on the War Memorial at Lapley.
This memorial has mostly been compiled from official sources. It would be good to be able to expand it with more personal material - memories, stories, photos, etc. If you have any suitable material or any corrections please contact Greg.