PRATT, Arthur
| Service Number: | 1227 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 September 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 52nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Enoggera, Queensland, Australia, September 1897 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | SW to left leg,, 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, France, 10 June 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck, Nord Pas de Calais Trois-Arbres Cemetery (Plot I, Row P, Grave No. 6), Steenwerck, France, Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck, Nord Pas de Calais, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Enoggera Shire Council Roll of Honour WW1, Kilcoy Honour Roll, Mitchelton St Matthew's Church Groveley Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1227, 42nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 1227, 42nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 1227, 42nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Sydney | |
| 10 Sep 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 52nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 10 Jun 1917: | Involvement Private, 1227, 52nd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1227 awm_unit: 52nd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-06-10 |
Narrative
Arthur PRATT #1227 42nd Battalion/ 52nd Battalion
Arthur Pratt stated that he had been born at Enoggera. When he enlisted at Brisbane on 15th September 1915, he gave his age as 18 years and occupation as labourer. He was of slight build being just half an inch above the minimum height requirement of 5’4”.
After a period of time in a depot battalion at Enoggera, Arthur travelled to Sydney with the 42nd Battalion where he boarded the “Borda” on 5th June 1916. By September of that year, Arthur was in camp at Codford in England where he was transferred to the 52nd Battalion. Arthur was taken on strength by his new battalion in France on 15th October.
In December, Arthur attended a two week course of instruction at the divisional school on the use of the Stokes Trench Mortar. The Stokes mortar was a relatively new, but somewhat dangerous weapon. Mortar crews needed to take care that the base plate was properly seated and that the mortar tube, which was cast iron, did not snag rounds.
By the spring of 1917, the thrust of the British and Dominion Forces had shifted from the Somme in France to the Ypres salient in Belgian Flanders. The 52nd Battalion would be put into the line at Messines in June of 1917.
On 8th June 1917, Arthur received a shrapnel wound to his thigh. He was transported by Field Ambulance to 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Steenwerck where he subsequently died of his wounds. Arthur was buried in the Trois Abres Military Cemetery not far from the French/ Belgian border.
From the data available in official records, there is very little to suggest that Arthur Pratt had any connection with the Kilcoy district. It is possible that a relative or friend of Arthur added his name to the Roll or he may have been working in the district at some time.
Submitted 7 March 2022 by Ian Lang
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From 52nd Battalion AIF
Pte Arthur (Barney) PRATT was an 18 year old labourer when he enlisted in September 1915 in Brisbane. He sailed with the 42nd Bn in June 1916. After arrival in England, he transferred to reinforcements for the 52nd and was taken on strength in October. He was detached to a Stokes Mortar School of Instruction in December and received congratulations for his results from Divisional Command. He was wounded in action at Messines on 8 June (shrapnel wounds and fractured left leg) and was transferred to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. He died on the 10th of June.
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