Eric O. Pryce
CAPTAIN ERIC OAKELEY PRYCE
1892 - 1960 Steadiness Under Fire: a young man from Kakariki with a distinguished military career - awarded the Military Cross for gallantry and steadiness under fire in 1916, age 24 - returning home to a successful farming life. Told by the Short family. Eric Pryce was the only son of Herbert and Annie Pryce of Kakariki near Halcombe. His parents owned the farm known then as "Rangitawa" on Pryces Line. Educated locally, Eric attended Collegiate School in Wanganui and later, with much family still back in the United Kingdom, he attended Cambridge University. It was while he was studying there that the Great War was declared and he volunteered to the British Army. "Gallantry Under Fire” “The official details of the circumstances in which Lieutenant Eric Pryce, son of Mr Herbert Pryce of Kakariki, Halcombe, was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry and steadiness under fire, relate that Lieutenant Pryce’s battery (D Battery, Howitzer Brigade, Royal Field Artillery) position was west of Mametz Wood. He had to take over the battery on July 31st, when the battery commander was wounded. Lieutenant Pryce gave a very praiseworthy exhibition of coolness and gallantry for such a young officer. On August 8th a gun of the battery was hit and the ammunition in the pit exploded. The gun was thrown a distance of forty yards and the men of the detachment in the shelter trench were buried by the displaced earth. Lieutenant Pryce showed great coolness in organising and directing a digging party which after an hour’s work under fire, recovered the whole detachment. On August 15th, the battery’s position was shelled, a gun was hit and the men of the detachment wounded. Lieutenant Pryce, assisted by B.S.M. Porter and Gunner Day, tended the wounded and in five minutes had the gun in action and continued the bombardment." - Quoted from a newspaper article from 1916. |
The Battle of Mametz Wood was one of the Battles of The Somme in France. "The Battle of the Somme" was one of the largest and most well-known battles of World War 1. It lasted from 1st July – 18th November 1916 on the banks of the Somme River in north-western France. It was also one of the bloodiest battles of the war, or in fact of any war prior or since WW1. An estimated 1,000,000 men were killed or wounded (from both sides). Almost 60,000 British soldiers were killed, wounded or taken prisoner on the very first day of fighting. The Germans killed many officers, having being trained to recognise their uniforms. Trench warfare was common during this time. The conditions in the Trenches were cramped, muddy and uncomfortable but had to be endured for weeks at a time. When the battle ended in mid-November, the British and French troops had only advanced about 8km. The battle ended partly because the heavy rains and subsequent mud made fighting too difficult.
Eric Pryce after the Great War
Eric returned home from the war aged 27. During the war he saw and did things that had an impact on him for the rest of his life. Upon his return home there was a huge neighbourhood celebration to welcome him home. Later he married Gwendoline Beckett from Marton, and they had four daughters. They bought a farm at Rata and they lived there initially until his father died, then they moved back to "Rangitawa" at Kakariki. Eric was a life member of the Halcombe RSA and during World War Two was head of the Halcombe Home Guard. Well-known among farming circles, he raised stud sheep - Southdowns, Lincolns - and most notably shorthorn cattle. He died in 1960 aged 68.
Just a few family members remain in the Halcombe district today. Eric was the grandfather of Alison Short and great-grandfather of Alex, Hilary and Tori Short.
Eric Pryce after the Great War
Eric returned home from the war aged 27. During the war he saw and did things that had an impact on him for the rest of his life. Upon his return home there was a huge neighbourhood celebration to welcome him home. Later he married Gwendoline Beckett from Marton, and they had four daughters. They bought a farm at Rata and they lived there initially until his father died, then they moved back to "Rangitawa" at Kakariki. Eric was a life member of the Halcombe RSA and during World War Two was head of the Halcombe Home Guard. Well-known among farming circles, he raised stud sheep - Southdowns, Lincolns - and most notably shorthorn cattle. He died in 1960 aged 68.
Just a few family members remain in the Halcombe district today. Eric was the grandfather of Alison Short and great-grandfather of Alex, Hilary and Tori Short.
Eric Pryce's Cenotaph Record is available online for you to view.
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If you have stories or memorabilia you'd like to share with our community, or perhaps ask questions about, we encourage you to make a submission to the Halcombe Community ANZAC Committee.
Please contact Wayne Short for more information: [email protected]
Please contact Wayne Short for more information: [email protected]