Bert Thomas PRATT

Bert Thomas PRATT Update Details

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PRATT, Bert Thomas

Service Number:	1511
Enlisted:	5 March 1915
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	24th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Toorak, Victoria, Australia, 1895
Home Town:	Toorak, Stonnington, Victoria
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Electrician
Died:	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 20 November 1973, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne
Memorials:

World War 1 Service

5 Mar 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1511, 24th Infantry Battalion
8 May 1915:	Involvement Private, 1511, 24th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: ''
8 May 1915:	Embarked Private, 1511, 24th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Melbourne

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Bert Thomas Pratt was the only survivor of three brothers who enlisted in the AIF during WW1. His older brother George was killed in action at Lone Pine, Gallipoli in August 1915 and another older brother, Charles, was killed in action at Pozieres during July 1916.

Bert served briefly at Gallipoli with the 24th Battalion before he was evacuated with a chronic disease of his hearing. He was still being treated in a hospital in Leicester, England till his father intervened when he wrote a letter to Senator Pearce, the Minister of Defence, on 5 September 1916, signed by both parents. He explained to the Senator how his son how his son George had been reported missing at Lone Pine, and was still officially missing, and the misery and worry this had caused the parents. He also stated they had just received news that another son, Charles Ernest Pratt was reported killed in action at Pozieres in July 1916. “So, you can see Sir, that we have had rather more than our share of trouble through this terrible crisis we are undergoing. What we wish to ask you now Sir, is to know if there is any possible means of getting our only boy that is left to comfort our declining years, returned to us as you can see from the foregoing facts that we have had to pass through a most terrible ordeal. If you can see your way clear to do this or inform us by what means it can be done you will confer on us an everlasting favour and blessing.”

We have the honour to be Sir, your most obedient servants,

C.T. Pratt

Sarah Pratt

Senator Pearce had an extremely compassionate record in such cases and Bert Thomas Pratt was returned to Australia for ‘family reasons’ on 12 November 1916.

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