59344, Private, Gregory PRYKE
Aged 19
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Born in Newmarket in Q3-1899 [Newmarket 3b:507] to Henry and Catherine PRYKE (née RAYNER) of 5 Stamford Terrace, Field Terrace Road,
Newmarket.
1901 census...Gregory [1] was at 5 Stamford Terrace, Filed Terrace Road, Newmarket with his father Harry [55], a navvy born in Exning; his mother Catherine [36] born in Edinburgh; his sisters Francis L [12] and Rosy A [11] and brothers Henry [14]; Charles W [8] and William J [4]. All the children were born in Newmarket. 1911 census...Gregory [11] was still at 5 Stamford Terrace with his parents, brother Charles Wallis (a groom), William (an errand boy). There were three new siblings, Laura[8]; Jacob [6] and Albert [4], all born in Newmarket. One child had died, probably Henry Bertram PRYKE born and died in 1909. He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds His entry in "Our Exning Heroes" reads "Born in Field Terrace Road in 1899, and educated at Exning Road School. He worked for Lady Freer when war broke out, and when she heard that he was killed, she wrote to his mother: "I cannot tell you how sorry I am ...he was so good in every way, always cheery and willing, and so keen in everything he did". He joined up when eighteen years of age, and went to France after only three months training, and was killed after being in the country only three weeks. His Commanding Officer writes: During the short time he was with the Regiment he proved himself a brave soldier, and it was in the fearless execution of his duty that he was killed." |
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On the 17 September 1918 the 1st/8th Worcesters returned to France and were attached to 75th Brigade in 25th Division.
The last great battle of the First World War, the Battle of the Sambre was the 4th November: By November 1918 the old trench system on the Western Front had collapsed and it was
now open warfare. The Germans resorted to using geographical features to defend and on 4th November 1918 it was the Sambre-Oise Canal. More men went into
battle that day than on the First Day of the Somme in 1916 but it was a very different battle, with minimal losses and mostly success; but not without some
casualties; among them the war poet, Wilfred Owen. 10 of Gregory's battalion died that day and are buried in Landrecies Britsh Cemetery ( the area was captured that day).
It is possible that the wounded Gregory was taken to Le Cateau, about 4 mile away, which had recently been captured and was an important German hospital base. The Bury Free Press of 28th December 1918 reported:- NEWMARKET SOLDIER'S DEATH Mrs. C. Pryke of Newmarket has had official notification from the War Office that her fourth son, Pte Gregory Pryke, of the 1/8th Worcester Regt, was killed in action on November 4th 1918, aged 19. He joined the colours on June 17th last, and went to France on October 22nd.
© Pierre Vandervelden www.inmemories.com photo: Rodney Gibson and is also commemorated on the Roll of Honour in St Philip & St Etheldreda's Church, Exning Road. click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
