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Norman’s father, William Verner was first married to Elizabeth, with the two having five children. Sadly, 41-year-old Elizabeth died at Woolshed, near Wasleys in July 1914 ‘after a lingering illness, patiently borne’ and was buried in The Willaston General cemetery.
William soon married widow Minna Dominica Goss who had four children of her own, Stan, Victor, Richard and Audrey Goss. William and Minna added to their family with five more children of their own. Their family was comprised of Verner (Jim), Joan, Norman, Betty and Mavis Doreen, with all the children, including Norman being born at Wasleys, with Norm’s arrival being on the 14th July 1920. They initially lived at Woolshed out of Wasleys where William was involved in successfully growing Kings Red Wheat. Tragedy struck with the untimely death of their second child, an infant daughter, Joan on 29th October, 1917 at the Children’s Hospital in Adelaide. She was buried in the West Terrace Cemetery.
Norman was just five when his father, William died on the 16th August ’25 in Gawler. Probably because of his age, Norm was not allowed to attend the funeral. In later years he told his family that his only memory of his father was of the violets later placed on his father’s grave. William was interred with his first wife, Elizabeth at Willaston.
Minna and the children soon moved to Aldgate in the Adelaide Hills. It was a challenging time for the family who were essentially living in poverty. Norm, attended the local Aldgate Primary School and at aged 12 having received his Progress Certificate, left school. He sought work and often went rabbiting to help support his widowed mother and siblings. Later he worked at the Stirling Hotel contributing most of his earnings to the close-knit family.
Norman and his sister, Mavis Doreen were involved in many of the social events held in the Hills communities, including the Bridgewater Social Club Fancy Dress Ball, with Norman even winning a box of chocolates for his efforts in ‘37.
Unfortunately, the following year, 17-year-old Norman was less fortunate, fracturing his left collarbone when his bicycle hit a kerb at Stirling, causing him to be treated at the local hospital. However, the injury had recovered sufficiently for Norman, as a member of the Aldgate Amateur Cycling Club, to be one of thirteen riders involved in a road race from Adelaide to Murray Bridge at the end of March. He won the race convincingly and was presented with a Cup.
Post school, Norm worked as a barman and was also part of the 43/48 Battalion of the militia as V.E. 309368 which he joined as an 18-year-old at the start of 1939 until the outbreak of WWII. 19-year-old Norman, a labourer, enlisted at Woodside as SX8199 on the 17th June ’40 and was placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. Two friends, 20-year-old Stuart Wood and 22-year-old Geoff Radbone enlisted at a similar time, becoming SX7213 and SX7139 respectively. Their early days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds before ironically, the young men returned to the chilly Adelaide Hills for preliminary training at Woodside. There, Norm was appointed as Acting Lance Corporal.
While home with family on pre-embarkation leave, a huge crowd collected in the Aldgate Hall on Friday, 25th October to bid farewell to five local boys (L/Cpl. N. Pratt, SX2853 Driver W. Shanks, Ptes. SX8087 W. Fletcher 2/48th Battalion, SX8014 O. Neumann 2/48th Battalion and T. Glazbrook. (Bill Fletcher was later to die of his wounds at El Alamein in July ’42).
Dancing and a variety of items entertained residents before several speeches were made after which presentations were offered to each of the soldiers, wishing them the best of luck, and a speedy and safe return. Each of the enlistees suitably responded. A parcel of comforts, containing a pair of socks, Balaclava cap, scarf, mittens and two khaki handkerchiefs, were then handed to each guest by the president of the girls' Cheerio club. Supper followed and the evening concluded with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."

Norm’s battalion soon boarded the Stratheden, a former cruise ship where he had a further promotion to Acting Corporal on the 7th November. The ship arrived via Colombo in the Middle East on the 17th December where the soldiers completed a few months training in Cyrenaica. During those early days, the men settled into camps and apart from regular army duties was the need to quickly adapt to the light-fingered locals who saw any provisions or equipment as ‘available’. Norm was again soon further promoted to Corporal and assumed the honour of overseeing a Bren Gun carrier.

A year after his arrival, the desert conditions contributed to him contracting acute tonsillitis resulting in a week’s rest in hospital to recuperate. By this time Norm had earned the unofficial title of being a Rat of Tobruk. Ironically, the term was designed to demoralise the soldiers who were living in very primitive, fly and rat-infested conditions in hand hewn dugouts. However, the men seized on the derogatory term as a badge of honour.

In mid-June ’42 Norm received an accidental burn to his right forearm which resulted in another week of recovery in hospital. Afterwards, he participated in a Weapons Training Course in which he performed creditably. Norm was involved in the massive battle of El Alamein which began at the end of October, ’42. His battalion was later described as ‘of the most vital significance in the whole Desert Army, attacking deep into the most difficult and most important sector of the whole front.’ Whilst much has been written of the detail of the attack, the most telling summary was in the British Official Report. “They fought themselves and their enemy to a standstill until flesh and blood could stand no more – then they went on fighting.” This was the 2/48th Battalion of Rats.
A well-deserved return to Australia via Melbourne finally eventuated at the start of February ’43 for the exhausted survivors in the battalion. During leave, Norm announced his engagement to Valise Willshire of Long Gully, before returning to more study in the Weapons Training Course, then joining the battalion in Queensland and leaving Cairns for service in Milne Bay, Papua & New Guinea in August ’43. The tropical conditions caused several infections and injuries, including bites from mites, an ankle infection, bruised fractured fibula and an ankle sprain, which also caused a chipped talus bone.
Eventually, Norm returned to Australia in March ’44 being diagnosed with malaria. A stint in the Glenelg Kapara Nursing Home and well-earned leave followed. During this time Norman had the privilege to be best man for SX4897 Pte. Colin Weber of Angaston who also served in the 2/48th Battalion and married in May ’44.
Several bouts of ill health continued including heart and aortic regurgitation, diagnosis of a thyroid condition and persistent malaria. These struggles led to 24-year-old Norm’s eventual discharge on the 1st July ’45. At the time, returned soldiers were given the option of retaining some of their war equipment, including purchasing their rifle for a pound and or their bayonet for 5 shillings. Norm chose the bayonet and his greatcoat. (In later years, the bayonet was mounted above his son, Noel’s bed.)
Norm and Valise married on the 10th May ’46 in an evening service at the Pirie Street Methodist Church. Norm chose SX7213 Corporal Stuart Wood from the 2/48th Battalion as his best man. Valise and Norm lived in Long Gully, welcoming their son Trevor Milton the following year with the baby being christened in the Aston Memorial Church, Stirling West. Godmother, Beryl Chew had brought a christening gown for Trevor from Sydney.
By this time, Norman had set up his business in furniture upholstery, based in Aldgate. His initial aim was to build a family home in the Hills but post war tradesmen were difficult to find and support for returned men was slow. Eventually, by June ’50 the family moved to the bustling mid north town of Peterborough, which at the time was a huge central hub for railways, providing employment for many varied skills. Norm initially worked full time for the South Australian Railways and then established his own upholstery business in a shop near Matthews Emporium, a local 'department store'. Valise sold haberdashery from the front section (The building later becoming Footes Shoe Store.). To avoid competition Matthews offered Norm employment as a storeman and laying floor coverings. Norm accepted the offer and simultaneously continued his upholstery business from home in Railway Tce. Eventually Norman left Matthews Emporium and returned to work full time as a motor trimmer and upholsterer for the South Australian Railways. His role involved responsibility for most of this work in country SA. Valise commented that the home upholstery business became more lucrative than his day job and he worked long, hard hours to provide a comfortable lifestyle for the family.
In ’52, Valise and Norm welcomed a son. In all they had two sons Trevor and Noel and a daughter, Sian Julie-Anne who was born in 1954. The family quickly became involved in local activities including supporting the Miss South Australia Quest of Miss Peterborough. Norm was highly regarded by the local community and very involved with the local RSL branch. Over the years he held office as President, Secretary and Treasurer. His RSL mates likely provided support and solace. In later years he was a Legatee offering support to widows of ex-servicemen and their families. Like so many returned soldiers, they were told to forget the war and move on with their lives, which many did – on the surface. However, the memories were deeply embedded. Norm’s daughter, Sian, summarised the thoughts of so many of the Rats’ descendants.
“I really wish the silence about the war could have been broken. These men internalised so much trauma. If only there had been greater understanding and support for them and their families all those years ago.” As did so many children she asked the obvious, child-like question of her father about whether he'd killed anyone. For other children who asked a similar question, the reaction was the same - seeing and being confused by the frozen, speechless expression on a returned soldiers’ face and wondering about the stories the silently hanging army greatcoats could shed.
Initially the family lived in Railway Terrace where much of Norm’s 'leisure time' was devoted to gardening. He and Valise created a lovely home with an immaculate, well-tended garden. Gardening was probably grounding and very therapeutic considering his struggles with the impact of war related trauma. The family lived in this home until the children left the nest. Norm and Valise then built a new home in Queen St., Peterborough. Sadly, Norm only enjoyed three months in this home before his sudden death from a heart attack, aged 55 on the 22nd of December ’75. Norm’s funeral was held on an incredibly hot Christmas Eve, a day so typical of summer in the mid-north of our state. It was attended by literally hundreds of mourners, with the local RSL members providing a guard of honour as his casket was carried from the Church. The local florist showed the children masses of floral tributes that had been delivered in Norm's honour. He was buried in the Protestant section of the local Peterborough Cemetery, 6A 2019. His service is also remembered in the Centennial Park Garden of Remembrance.
He continued to be remembered by the family with a poignant tribute posted in 2015. ‘PRATT, Norman Lyal.2/48th Battalion, SX8199 It's been 40 years since you journeyed from this life and we remember you with love and gratitude. Continue to rest peacefully for you are always in our hearts. Your dear wife Val; children Trevor, Noel and Sian Julie-Anne and your ever-expanding beautiful family. Lest We Forget.

With grateful thanks to Norman’s daughter, Sian for her detail and insight. Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.