Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Norman was born on the 9th November 1913 in Portsmouth, a large port city to the south-west of London, an area famous for its dry dock. Norman came to live in Prospect where he worked as a carpenter until the outbreak of WWII. Aged 26, he was an early enlistee on the 2nd July ’40, becoming SX7607 and was allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. He gave his mother, Elizabeth, still living in the UK, as his next of kin.
Norman’s early intensive training was at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills before he had short pre-embarkation leave, then boarded the Stratheden on the 7th November, arriving on the 17th December.
An adventurous streak at the end of January ’41 proved to be very expensive, with the loss of two days’ pay and Norman being confined to barracks. Within a fortnight, he then suffered a fracture to his right leg which resulted in extensive recuperation time at Gaza Ridge. He was unaware at the time that he was to also earn an unofficial title of being a Rat of Tobruk. Ironically, the name was designed to demoralise the soldiers who were existing in hand hewn dusty dugouts, shared with flies and rats and aimed to encourage them to surrender. It had the opposite effect, with the soldiers wearing the title as a badge of honour.
Ill health continued to stalk Norman as he developed several bouts of sandfly fever and being further hospitalised. Following extra time in the Amiriya Staging Camp, Norman was able to briefly return to his own battalion where in April ’42 he earned a promotion to Acting Corporal. This was briefly held as within a month Norman was again hospitalised with dermatitis. He resumed his promotional title in September, but again, injury, this time bursitis of his knee and further hospitalisation meant another return to the rank of Private.
The 2/48th Battalion was finally able to return to Australia via Melbourne in February ’43 with Norman having the position of Corporal. Unfortunately, dermatitis returned and, not unexpectedly, his medical classification indicated he was physically unfit for service and was discharged on the 13 July ’43 – being allocated a suit for his return to civilian life.
In March ’49 Norman announced his engagement to Enid Beryl Sumner, known as Beryl in the Advertiser. ‘ SUMNER—PRATT.—The engagement is announced of Beryl, third daughter of Mrs. Sumner, Hilton, to Norman, youngest son of Mrs. and the late Mr. Pratt, Portsmouth, England.’ The young couple lived in Sefton Park where they soon welcomed two children, Jennifer, born in November ’50 at Calvary and a young son, Jeffrey Wayne in ‘53. In a cruel twist, Jeffrey was just 9 ½ months old when he died in March ’54 in the Adelaide Children’s Hospital. He was laid to rest in the New Enfield General Cemetery.
Post war, Norman worked for the Weapons Research Establishment in the Department of Supply. This initiative was because of Tom Playford encouraging the development of a defence industry at Salisbury in South Australia at a distance from other frontline areas which would be open to be attacked.
Aged 73, Norm died on the 9th March 1987 at Sefton Park. He was buried in the Enfield Memorial Park Cemetery, Anglican section F14. Following his death, almost two years later, Beryl posthumously applied for Norman’s medals. He had earned the 1939/45 Star, African Star, Defence Medal War Medal and Australian Service Medal.
Beryl lived to be 88 and died on the 27th November 2010. She now rests with Norm and their baby son, Jeffrey.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.