Lt.Cdr. Bernard Elliot Prichard

  Notes:

From Ann G-P research.
Possibly lived in Dover.

From Anthony Bateman research; "arrived from Australia in full dress uniform for the 1911 coronation" and visited the Batemans. Pritchard was a Lt Cdr RN attached to the RAN in 1911 (Coronation year). After retirement he is recorded as being a harbourmaster in Australia.
Married Australian heiress?

London Gazette;
Admiralty 10 Aug 1898; The undermentioned Acting Sub-Lt's have been confirmed as Sub-Lt in Her Majesty's fleet; Bernard Elliot Prichard
Admiralty Promotions 14 July 1900; Sub-Lt; Bernard Elliot Prichard
That doesn't actually make sense to me, unless it's two different people.

Anthony found bankrupcy proceedings for him in 1910.
London Gazette; March 1912 Bankruptcy proceedings; H.M.S. Brilliant, Fourth Cruiser Squadron, in the parish of Stepney, and now on special service with the Commander- in-Chief, St.John, Newfoundland
London Gazette; 14 May 1912; Prichard, Bernard Elliott ; Of H.M.S. Brilliant, Fourth Cruiser Squadron, in the parish of Stepney ; Lieutenant, H.M. Navy ; 10s in the £ dividend (not THAT bankrupt then!).

London Gazette; 22 Nov 1918; Admiralty; Placed on the retired list at his own request; Bernard E. Prichard. 20th Nov. 1918.

Philip Bateman quote; ""Somewhat uncouth cousin visited from Australia …. in uniform for KGV coronation (1911)….. easily and cheaply disposed of by Dr B", however we now think this is probably a different Australian cousin!

From Wendy; Engagement announcement in Times: the marriage of Bernard Elliot Pritchard RN HMS Prometheus Australian Squadron and Miss Mollie Simmons will take place in Hobart, Tasmania on March 3 1908.
Also found birth announcement: on 3 June 1912 at Victoria Nursing Home Shanghai wife of Lt Commander Bernard Prichard a daughter - presumably this is Joyce.

There are five references to (possibly) him in 'Time Restored' a biog of Rupert Gould. He was a Lt.Cdr in Shantou in 1913 for example.

More Bankrupt stuff in London Gazette Aug 1920; The following amended notice is substituted for that published in the London Gazette of the 3rd February, 1920 :- Debtor's Name--Prichard, COMMANDER (my caps) Bernard Elliot (described in the Receiving Order as Commander B. G. Pritchard); Address-late of The Old Ship, Brighton, in the county of Sussex, Ibut whose present residence or place of business the Petitioning •Creditor is unable to ascertain; Court-'High Court of Justice in Bankruptcy; No. of Matter-879 of 1919: Date of Order-Feb. 5, 1920; Petition-Dec. 4, 1919.

And it's STILL going on in 1935; London Gazette; PRICHARD, Bernard Elliot (Commander) (described in the Receiving Order as Commander B. G. Pritchard), late of The Old Ship, Brighton, in the county of Sussex, but whose present residence or place of business the Petitioning Creditor is unable to -ascertain. Court-HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE. No. of Matter-S79 of 1919. Amount per £-5s. 0£d. First or Final, or otherwise-Supplemental.

From Anthony; Bernard Elliot Prichard was born in Toleni, Transkei on 3 March 1878. He was Midshipman aboard the St. George (Flag) and served in the Naval ..." This is from a Dix Noonan Webb medal sale catalogue. Can't open the website as it is being relaunched. I'd already discovered that he is mentioned in a compendium of RN officer's mini- Service biographies as having taken part in a punitive expedition up the Brass River in West Africa as a Midshipman. He got the East & West Africa Medal with 'Brass River' clasp - worth £350-400 now at least. I've been trying to ascertain whether he got other medals beside that one and the 3 for his most undistinguished service in WWI.

From Dix Noonan Webb's website (via Anthony); 27 Jul 95 sold East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Brass River 1895 (B. E. Prichard, Mid., H.M.S. St. George) good very fine. Estimated; £300-£350. Sold for £280. Footnote; B. E. Prichard was Midshipman of St. George (Flag) and served in the Naval Brigade landed under the command of Rear-Admiral Sir F. Bedford, K.C.B., Commander-in-Chief, for the Punitive Expedition against King Koko, of Nimby, the chief town of Brass, on the River Niger, February, 1895 (Medal and clasp). As first and gunnery Lieutenant of Brilliant during the Revolution in Honduras, Central America, he was present at the battle of La Ceiba, when the town was captured by the revolutionary troops and the General of the Government killed. In February, 1911, he landed in command of a mixed force of British and American blue jackets and marines from H.M.S. Brilliant and U.S. Ships Tacoma and Marietta to restore order and police the town of San Pedro, 38 miles inland from the seaport of Puerto Cortes. Lieutenant Prichard was mentioned in despatches for his services during the revolution.
and (same source);
25 Jun 08 sold East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Brass River 1895 (B. E. Prichard, Mid. R.N., H.M.S. St. George) very fine. Estimate; £500 - £600. Sold for £900. Footnote; Bernard Elliot Prichard was born in Toleni, Transkei on 3 March 1878. He was Midshipman aboard the St. George (Flag) and served in the Naval Brigade landed under the command of Rear-Admiral Sir F. Bedford, K.C.B., Commander-in-Chief, for the Punitive Expedition against King Koko, of Nimby, the chief town of Brass, on the River Niger, February, 1895. For his services he was awarded East & West Africa medal with clasp 'Brass River 1895' and was one of 174 men of the ship to be so awarded. He was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant in November 1897, Lieutenant in June 1900 and Lieutenant-Commander in June 1908. He was First and Gunnery Lieutenant of the 2nd class cruiser Brilliant, December 1909-December 1911, during the Revolution in Honduras, Central America, and was present at the battle of La Ceiba, when the town was captured by the revolutionary troops and the General of the Government killed. In February, 1911, he landed in command of a mixed force of British and American blue jackets and marines from H.M.S. Brilliant and U.S. Ships Tacoma and Marietta to restore order and police the town of San Pedro, 38 miles inland from the seaport of Puerto Cortes. For his services Lieutenant-Commander Prichard was mentioned in despatches. His service papers record, 'Much zeal, tact & discretion shown during revolution in Spanish Honduras'. With the start of the Great War he was based at Dryad until February 1915 when he sent a telegram to the Admiralty, 'requests he be relieved as he represents the responsibilities ... command is now more than his nerves will stand.' His urgent request was granted and he was next posted to Royal Arthur, April-May 1915 and Zaria, August-December 1915. After continuing difficulties his next appointment was on Queen, May-June 1917. He was then posted to Catania at Taranto in command of motor launches and remained there until returning to England in March 1918. Based at Ganges, July-October 1918 he received a poor service report and in November 1918 he was placed on the Retired List at his own request. Several reports on his papers then speak of money troubles and in 1932 his name was removed from the Retired Officers List 'in view of his long record of discreditable financial transactions'. In 1939/40, his application for employment with the Royal Navy was likewise refused. Sold with copied service papers.

Bernard married Madeline Vera 'Mollie' Simmons on 3 Mar 1908 in Hobart, Tasmania. (Madeline Vera 'Mollie' Simmons died Q3 1966 in Wandsworth, London.)