PRATT, Albert Ernest
| Service Number: | 3099 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 July 1915, 10th Reinforcements |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 53rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Auckland, New Zealand, 1893 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Killed In Action, France, 19 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery Plot I. Row E, Grave No 10 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3099, 1st Infantry Battalion, 10th Reinforcements | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 3099, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Warilda embarkation_ship_number: A69 public_note: '' | |
| 8 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 3099, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Warilda, Sydney | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement Second Lieutenant, 53rd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 53rd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Second Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1916-07-19 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by VWM Australia
Note on file, marked 'Major 53rd Battn': 'Lieut. Pratt was killed about midnight 19/20 July in the 2nd enemy line in front of FROMELLES. He was shot through the heart and died instantly. The position was retaken by the enemy next morning and the body was not recovered.'
Base records wrote to mother, 13 March 1925: '... I am now in receipt of advice that the Imperial War Graves Commission has been successful in recovering the remains of the later officer [A.E. PRATT] which have since been interred with every measure of care and reverence in the POZIERES BRITISH CEMETERY, Plot 3, Row H, Grave 12.'
Second Lieutenant Pratt had been incorrectly identified and thought to been burried in the Pozieres Brititsh Cemetery. Once the mistake had been found he was memorialised at VC Corner Australian Cemetery in Fromelles.
In 2010 he was identified and interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery in France some 90 years after going missing on that tragic day in July 1916.
Lest We Forget.
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