Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Post War B.E.M. group of five awarded to Provost Sergeant Alfred Pritchard, Coldstream Guards

British Empire Medal (Military) E.II.R. (23474328 Sgt., Coldm. Gds.); War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, G.VI.R., 1 clasp, Malaya (2669148 Cpl., Coldm. Gds.); General Service 1962, 1 clasp, South Arabia (23474328 Sgt., Coldm. Gds.); Regular Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (23474328 Sgt., Coldm. Gds.) third medal with crude repair to suspension and some heavy edge bruising, therefore good fine, otherwise good very fine or better (5) £350-400

B.E.M. London Gazette 1 January 1967. The original recommendation states: ‘For the past 18 months Sergeant PRITCHARD has been Provost Sergeant of the 1st Bn. Coldstream Guards in BAOR and from October 1965 to April 1966 in Aden. The high standards he maintains in the guardrooms in his charge are constant and unchanging. His care has never failed to have the right effect on a soldier under sentence, both as regards appearance and on his attitude to the service. His abilities are well known outside his Battalion and it is often necessary to refuse applications from neighbouring units when too many ask to put their wrong doers in his care.

In Aden, the Guardroom was a tent but standards were in no way relaxed and Sergeant PRTICHARD ran the guardroom every bit as efficiently and effectively as in the more sophisticated accommodation in BAOR. At the same time he runs contented and effective staff and every NCO who has spent 6 months on his staff as a Regimental Police Corporal has had cause to be grateful for his training.

Outside the Guardroom his unswerving sense of duty and unbending standards are well known to every man and have a very marked effect on the discipline and morale of the Battalion. His presence at trouble spots, and his wise, but uncompromising advice to many a young man have been major factors in the prevention of crime. He is regarded with respect and no little affection by all.

He has now had over 21 years service in the Coldstream Guards and has been Provost Sergeant for 14 of them, He has given consistently loyal and devoted service and is performance over the past 18 months has been outstanding and worthy of positive recognition.