Francis Norton Pratt
- Family History
- Military History
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Francis was the eldest son of Francis Herbert Pratt and Emma Jane Pratt nee Painter.His parents were married in Longfleet, Dorset, on 3 June 1890. They were to have four children; Francis Norton (b. 1891), Neville Herbert (b. 7 October 1892), Phyllis Hustwayte (b. 1894) and Reginald Painter (b. 3 July 1899). All the children were born in Nottingham.In 1891, the year after their marriage, Francis (b. 1859 Nottingham) and Emma (b. Clapton London) were living at 28 Park Street, Nottingham. Francis was a tea merchant. They employed one female servant.By 1901 Francis and Emma were living at 5 Meadow Lane, Nottingham, with their four children, Francis (9), Neville (8), Phyllis (6) and Reginald (1). Also in the household were Emma's parents, John and Emma Painter, and two servants, a cook and a housemaid.The family address was given on the 1911 Census as Turret House, Meadow Lane. Francis and Emma and their three sons were at home on the night of the census. Francis (19) was an accountant student, Neville (18) an architect student and Reginald (11) was still at school. There was one female general servant in the household on the night of the census.Francis's brother, Neville Herbert, a captain in the 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, was killed in action on 8 July 1916 (Mericourt-L'Abbe Communal Cemetery Extension).His parents later lived at Fairlawn, 6 Station Road, Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire. Francis died on 16 May 1936 and Emma on 28 November 1948. In both cases their daughter Phyllis was awarded probate together with Walter Albert Heazell, a retired bank manager.Phyllis married George Whiteman Elderkin in 1924. George had served during the war with the Army Service Corps and later the Royal Air Force as a lieutenant and was in France from 5 February 1915. George died on 4 August 1939. Phyllis died on 24 September 1961; she was living at 10 Crow Park Drive, Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire. Probate was awarded to John Norton Elderkin, a major in the British Army, and David George Elderkin, an architect. The youngest sibling, Reginald, died in 1980 aged 81 (death registered December East Retford).
Francis Norton Pratt received a commission and went to France on 26/01/1915. He was promoted to lieutenant and then captain. The 2nd Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment took part in the Battle of Epehy on September 18, 1918. A frontal attack was to be made by the 16th Brigade, which included the 2nd Battalion, on a horseshoe feature flanked by the Quadrilateral redoubt and the village of Fresnoy le Petit. At 6.30 a.m. with a creeping barrage the battalion advanced and managed to enter the outskirts of fresno, but they then lost the position to a German counter-attack at 10.00 a.m. The following battalions were unable to make further progress and it was decided to consolidate the ground that had been gained. Captain Pratt was killed in action on that day and buried at Trefcon British Cemetery, Caulaincourt.
Probate: Pratt Francis Norton of Turret house Meadow-lane Nottingham captain in HM Army died 18 September 1918 in France Administration Nottingham 1 November to Francis Herbert Pratt tea agent. Effects £82 2s. 11d.Probate: Pratt Neville Herbert of Turret House Meadow-lane Nottingham captain in HM Army died 8 July 1916 in France Administration Nottingham 7 November to Francis Herbert Pratt tea agent. Effects £213 16s. 11d.
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