Major Trevor AG Pritchard DSO MBE

Major Trevor Allan Gordon Pritchard was OC: ‘X’ Troop, 11th Special Air Service Battalion.

Trevor Allan Gordon Pritchard was born on the 3 January 1911.

He was granted a commission in The Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

After volunteering for parachuting, and being sent to No 2 Commando, he rose to become the unit’s Second in Command.

He was selected to command the first ever parachute raid carried out by British Forces – Operation ‘Colossus’. The selection of the rest of the officers and men was made difficult when the Commanding Officer asked for volunteers and the entire Commando stepped forward! The then Lieutenant ‘Tony’ Deane-Drummond had the following to say about this, and an observation on ‘Tag’ Pritchard: “Around Christmas Day 1940, six of us had our answer. We had been chosen, together with about thirty men, for an operation which was due to come off in about a month. Our excitement can be imagined, and we all congratulated ourselves on our good fortune in having been chosen for the job from the whole Commando. Major T A G Pritchard, MBE, Royal Welch Fusiliers, was to command us. ‘Tag’ Pritchard was a regular soldier; he had got out of running a transit camp (hotel keeping he always used to call it) in order to go on active service by volunteering to parachute. In fact, he was rather heavy for a Parachutist, having been a good heavy-weight boxer in his younger days. Despite a rather gruff and inarticulate manner, there could not have been a more likeable or a more loyal commanding officer.” [1]

After considerable training and rehearsals, the raid to blow up the Tragino Aqueduct in Southern Italy, took place on the night of the 10 February 1941.

Although he and his stick of parachutists were dropped fairly accurately and close to the objective, and they were able to link up with four of the other five sticks, and then carry out the main demolition task, the plan to get away afterwards was not so easy. Having split up into four parties of approx. 8 – 10 men each they began making their way to the west coast. Major. Pritchard and his group were surrounded by Italians two days later and forced to surrender.

He was initially sent to a POW at Sulmona, in Italy, but eventually, after becoming completely exasperated at his constant escape attempts and activities, the Italians had him sent to Stalag Luft 1, near Barth in Germany. This Camp was abandoned by its guards on the approach of the Russian Army in late April/early May 1945.

He received the following military decorations:

Awarded the DSO London Gazette: 25 November 1941 (6761)

Awarded the MBE London Gazette: 29 August 1946 (4341)

Awarded an MID London Gazette: 24 November 1941

Citation for the Distinguished Service Order:

 Major Pritchard commanded the expedition of paratroops which landed in Italy on the 10th February, 1941. He organised the expedition and trained the personnel, who reached a high standard of efficiency. The success of the operation, as a result of which the aqueduct to Brindisi was blown up, the bankseats and one column destroyed, and the town cut off for ten days, was due to his leadership and inspiration. Major Pritchard had a reasonable chance to escape if arrangements had gone according to plan. The fact that they did not and that he was captured, was due to no error of judgment on his part.

 Citation for the MBE:

 Major Pritchard was captured in South Italy on 12 February 1941 and after several months' imprisonment at Sulmona he was sent to San Romano (near Pisa). Appointed Senior British Officer, he led an unsuccessful escape attempt to break out through an adjoining church.

 In June 1942 he was sent to Gavi, and even though this old fortress was reputed to be escape proof, Major Pritchard did everything in his power to foster escape activities. After the Italian capitulation when the Germans were evacuating all prisoners from Gavi, Major Pritchard hid, only to be discovered and transferred with his companions to Germany.

 Throughout his captivity Major Pritchard sent important information to the War Office by secret means, and after reaching Stalag Luft I in January 1944 he completely reorganised this side of the Intelligence work, with excellent results.

 The Senior British Officer who praised him highly for this work, also commended Major Pritchard for his valuable contribution to the building up of the camp morale through his keen interest in sport and P.T. Major Pritchard made his presence felt in every camp to which he was sent, and no less than 8 officers have praised his Escape Committee work and a further 7 his Intelligence activities.

Note that he and his men were awarded the African Star as opposed to the Italian Star as they were engaged in an operation against the Italian Forces fighting in the North African desert campaign

‘Tag’ Pritchard retired from the Army, as a Lieutenant Colonel, on account of disability, on the 19 May 1953.

Information also sourced from the book: RETURN TICKET. Anthony Deane-Drummond. Pages 12-13.