Next of kin plaque: Second Lieutenant Leslie Byrt Pritchard, 22nd Battalion, AIF

Bronze next of kin plaque, in cardboard case of issue, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. Beneath the main figures, the British lion defeats the German eagle. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw. A raised rectangle above the lion's head bears the name 'LESLIE BYRT PRITCHARD'. A checker's mark, '96', is impressed between the lion's rear left paw and tail.

Born in Brunswick, Melbourne, Victoria, Leslie Byrt Pritchard was a recent graduate in agricultural science from Melbourne University when he enlisted in the AIF on 22 June 1915. Aftere initial training he was appointed a second lieutenant and posted to the 11th Reinforcements for 22nd Battalion. He embarked for overseas service from Melbourne on 29 March 1916, aboard RMS Orontes.

Pritchard arrived in France for service on the Western Front on 26 May. After further training he joined D Company of his battalion at Lealvillers on 23 July. Between 25 July and 5 August the battalion entered the line twice at Pozieres, in which 683 of its 1000 men became casualties.

Pritchard was killed about 10 pm on the night of 4 August when D and A Companies attacked O.G.1 [Old German Trench 1]. A German machine gun post in trench, which had been unsuccessfully attacked in the previous days' preparations for the assault, was manned and opened fire. It was the only one brought to bear directly and at close range on any part of the Australian advance on 4 August, and had a deadly effect. Of the six officers in Pritchard's party four were killed immediately. Lieutenant Blanchard, of A Company wrote: 'I saw Major Mackay killed, and as I turned round to tell Pritchard he was now in charge of the Company [D Company] I saw him bowled over. He was only about 30 yards behind me...I was the only officer who came through alive out of the six of us'. Pritchard was initially reported missing, but his body was later recovered. He is buried in the Courcelette British Cemetery. He was 24 years old.

This commemorative plaque was sent to His father, James Byrt Pritchard, in December 1922.

Although Pritchard and the four officers killed with him at the same time are listed as having been killed on 5 August, this appears to be because 22nd Battalion listed its dead from the 4 August night attack in its War Diary entry for 5 August.