Pryce T. S. Lieutenant
Personnel Entry
Name Pryce Tom Swain
Army number 151510.
Rank Lieutenant.
Decorations Awarded the Military Cross - gazetted 12/7/1945. For Citation see below. Awarded the Territorial Efficiency Medal - gazetted 28/1/1949.
Date of birth Birth registered July 1919 in Bath, Avon. Mother's maiden surname Lock.
Age (At time of death) 45.
Unit Probably enlisted and served in the ranks. Posted to 141st OCTU as a Cadet. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Engineers 12/10/1940 - gazetted 15/10/1940. Posted to 294th Field Company, Royal Engineers. Served Normandy. Appears to have remained in the Territorial Army.
Company/Battery
Platoon or other sub-unit Not yet known.
Task or role Details awaited.
Joined Brigade Not yet known.
Promotions Honorary Captain at the time of his TEM Award.
Wounded Not so far as is known.
Prisoner of War Not so far as is known.
Died/Killed in action Death took place 5/6/1965 at Brinkley at the age of 45. Probate granted to his widow on 22/9/1965 from the London office of the Probate Registry.
Home address Married Edith Marjorie Brown at Stourbridge in January 1944. Racecourse Farm, Pedmore, Stourbridge. Lived at 27, Orchard Avenue, Cambridge.
Source table
The Citation for the Award of Lt Pryce's Military Cross can be found in The National Archives at File Reference WO 373/54/741 and reads as follows:-
"In the attack on ARNHEM on the 12 and 13 April 1945 Lieut PRYCE was in command of the RE Platoon charged with the task of opening up a route from the river LJESSEL, through the town, for 146 Inf. Bde. This involved crossing the river immediately behind the assaulting infantry and working throughout with the leading troops. The tasks were reconnoitering routes, clearing mines and removing road blocks. To complete the work took nearly 24 hours and the route which had to be opened was under continuous shell and mortar fire. Throughout this period Lieut PRYCE by his complete disregard for his own safety encouraged his men to carry out their tasks and it was largely due to his personal leadership and enthusiasm that the road was opened to the Brigade in such a short time."
Some information on this Page has been extracted from the Commemorative Booklet, prepared by Major Langley, covering the period from D-Day to VE Day in addition to that extracted from the War Diaries. There are issues around the possible duplication of names which remain to be clarified.
