People sadly die in war, and not just those who are taking up arms to fight but civilians in their millions, we seem to expect and accept this, but what about murder?
I was researching for a friend regarding his Uncle, and came across a news article of a young woman who was discovered on the 9th September 1943 in the woods at the base of the Wrekin in Shropshire, an otherwise beautiful natural landmark in the west of the country, and it made me want to find out more.
Louisa Edith Jenny Price (known as Lou) was born on the 13th June 1925 to John and Jenny (nee Deans) Price of Higher Tranmere, Birkenhead. At the age of 14, she was living at 42 Mill Street and working as a bread delivery girl. Keen to do her duty, she enlisted in the Auxiliary Transport Service (the women’s branch of the Army) , and in 1943 was stationed at Wellington in Shropshire.
It appears that on the evening of the 8th September 1943, she attended a private party with local American Army personnel at nearby Forest Glen Pavilion and the next thing heard of poor Lou, was her body being found at 7am the following morning by men on their way to work at a nearby quarry. Her head had been severely injured with what they believed to be a rock, and her clothes were dishevelled with some of her uniform missing – 1940’s speak for a sexual attack.
Much was made of the fact that the American Military Police were assisting the British constabulary, quite obvious considering the facts that Lou had been enjoying a party attended by lads from the local American Army base. Unsurprisingly, it was an American who was arrested, 22 year old Sergeant Michael Pihosh.
Those who gave evidence were quite adamant in what they said, a Private Parent said that Pihosh had told him he had been out with a girl, and when they had to literally pour him into his bed after the dance ended, he had blood on him, when asked how? “I had an ATS girl out…keep it quiet”
ATS Lance Corporal Margaret Dickson had seen young Private Price leave with a tall dark American soldier and not return, but she could not identify him as she had not seen him clearly enough.
Pihosh maintained all along that he was innocent, after seven days being tried in a court martial by nine US air force personnel, he was acquitted, his words to the waiting press?
“ My first reaction to the verdict is to discontinue drinking, I shall try to see my girlfriend Miss Yvonne Lane of Shrewsbury as soon as I can, she has written to me and she believes in me
“
So, either the words of Parent and Dickson were ignored, or the boys club was at play.
Although with regards to his wonderful paramour Yvonne, I’m not sure how much she did believe in him, according to the records she married Ronald Jones in 1948, Michael survived the war and passed away at the age of 54.
What is so tragic about this case is not just that it is certainly not the only unsolved murder that took place during World War Two, Bella in the Wych elm happened around the same time as did many others, but that the authorities said they would keep looking, yet no-one else was ever charged with the assault and murder of a young 18 year old who was just trying to be a typical young women but also serve her country.
If you are ever in the Wirral, Private Price has a gravestone in Bebington Cemetery.
Do you think they had the right person? Do you think that having strapping young soldiers was more important than justice? If it was not Pihosh, then who was it?