Neville Herbert Pratt

Neville was the second son of Francis Herbert Painter Emma Jane Pratt nee Painter. His parents were married in Longfleet, Dorset, on 3 June 1890. They were to have four children; Francis Norton (b. 1891), Neville Herbert (b. 7 October 1892), Phyllis Hustwayte (b. 1894) and Reginald Painter (b. 3 July 1899). All the children were born in Nottingham. In 1891, the year after their marriage, Francis (b. 1859 Nottingham) and Emma (b. Clapton London) were living at 28 Park Street, Nottingham. Francis was a tea merchant. They employed one female servant. By 1901 Francis and Emma were living at 5 Meadow Lane, Nottingham, with their four children, Francis (9), Neville (8), Phyllis (6) and Reginald (1). Also in the household were Emma's parents, John and Emma Painter, and two servants, a cook and a housemaid. The family address was given on the 1911 Census as Turret House, Meadow Lane. Francis and Emma and their three sons were at home on the night of the census. Francis (19) was an accountant student, Neville (18) an architect student and Reginald (11) was still at school. There was one female general servant in the household on the night of the census. Neville's brother, Francis Norton, was killed on 18 September 1918 serving with 2nd Bn York and Lancaster Regiment (Trefcon British Cemetery, Caulaincourt). His parents later lived at Fairlawn, 6 Station Road, Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire. Francis died on 16 May 1936 and Emma on 28 November 1948. In both cases their daughter Phyllis was awarded probate together with Walter Albert Heazell, a retired bank manager. Phyllis married George Whiteman Elderkin in 1924. George had served during the war with the Army Service Corps and later the Royal Air Force as a lieutenant and was in France from 5 February 1915. George died on 4 August 1939. Phyllis died on 24 September 1961; she was living at 10 Crow Park Drive, Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire. Probate was awarded to John Norton Elderkin, a major in the British Army, and David George Elderkin, an architect. The youngest sibling, Reginald, died in 1980 aged 81 (death registered December East Retford).

Neville Herbert Pratt attended Nottingham High School and was a student of architecture. He was an Associate of the Nottingham and Derby Architectural Society.

"B" Coy. Neville Pratt enlisted at the war's outbreak, was commissioned after three months and promoted captain in July 1915. He was wounded in March 1916. He is buried in the Mericourt-L'Abbe Communal Cemetery Extension (grave ref. II.B.22).

Nottingham Post notice (abridged), 11 July 1916: 'Pratt. Killed in action July 8th, Captain Neville R Pratt, Sherwood Foresters, second son of Frank N and Mrs Pratt of Sneinton, in his 24th year.' Personal inscription on CWGC headstone: 'Blessed are the pure in heart. RIP' “At 11.50pm on 1st July 1916, after a day of waiting, expecting to follow up the advance into Fricourt which didn’t materialise, orders were finally received for the brigade to move and replace the 50th Brigade in front of the German held village of Fricourt. On arrival it was found that 50th Brigade had suffered very heavily indeed and had been unable to make any progress towards the village. Soon after daylight on 2nd July it was found that Fricourt had been evacuated by the enemy and the advance was pushed slowly through Fricourt Wood. During the night of 2/3rd July the 10th Sherwoods reinforced the two forward battalions and good work was done by ‘A’ and ‘D’ Companies and their bombers in clearing trenches north-east from Fricourt Wood towards Railway Alley and Crucifix Trench, 2 strongly defended trenches parallel to the enemy frontline. On the morning of 3rd July an inconclusive attack attack on Railway Alley by 7th Borders was followed by ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies of 10th Sherwoods attacking the same trench with 7th Lincolns. The operation was completely successful and, pushing on towards Crucifix Trench and Railway Copse, the companies captured 800 prisoners of the 3rd Battalion 186th Regiment of the German Army, including their commander. By the evening the battalion had consolidated a position along a well-marked hedge, about 1000 yards south-west of Contalmaison, stretching from Bottom Wood to Shelter Wood. It was in the capture of Railway Wood that an exploding bomb blinded Captain E R Oakden who died, as a result of his injuries, many months later on 22nd March 1917 and was buried in Nottingham’s Church (Rock) Cemetery close to the School. He had been one of the original officers of the battalion and had been wounded twice before in 1915, once by a rifle grenade. He is recorded as dying at home. His brother, also an ON, was to die of wounds in June 1918. 4th July was spent consolidating the positions gained and the battalion was relieved that night and withdrawn to a canvas camp at Ville-sur-Ancre for complete rest on 5th and 6th with much showing off by the men of captured German souvenirs. On 7th July the 51st Brigade moved to the original British front line near Contalmaison and Mametz Wood. From this position the battalion moved forward to Lone Copse and from there 2 companies pushed on to Quadrangle Trench to relieve troops of 52nd Brigade. The other 2 companies and battalion HQ moved to the valley 400 yards north of Fricourt Wood. About 3 pm this valley was heavily shelled with 15 cm howitzers, causing many casualties including Captain N H Pratt who is listed as dying on 8th July 1916. He is buried at Mericourt L’Abbe Communal Cemetery Extension. His brother, also an ON, was also killed in 1918. Heavy rain fell most of the day and the enemy artillery was intense over the whole area. In fighting from 1st July to July 11th the battalion lost 15 officers and 366 other ranks. ‘Captain N H Pratt was another of the band of brothers who came out from England with the battalion.’” Probate: Pratt Neville Herbert of Turret House Meadow-lane Nottingham captain in HM Army died 8 July 1916 in France Administration Nottingham 7 November to Francis Herbert Pratt tea agent. Effects £213 16s. 11d. Probate: Pratt Francis Norton of Turret house Meadow-lane Nottingham captain in HM Army died 18 September 1918 in France Administration Nottingham 1 November to Francis Herbert Pratt tea agent. Effects £82 2s. 11d.