AB
James Robert Pratt
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 22/07/1898 |
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Place of birth: South Walsham, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Able Seaman |
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Service number: 604 |
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Units: — Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 8th Bn. (Anson) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 26/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Varlet Farm, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 19 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 2A |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 1
| #1 | Place of birth |
My story
James Robert Pratt was born in 1898 in South Walsham, Norfolk. He was the eight child of Frederick and Emma Pratt. According to the 1911 census his father worked as a grocer and draper, while James was still in school at the time. During the war James volunteered and was assigned to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 8th (Anson) Battalion, part of the 188th Brigade, of the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division.
The Royal Naval Division participated in the Battle of Passchendaele. It attacked on 26 October 1917 with the 188th Brigade. The attack of this Brigade was carried by the 1st Royal Marines on the left and the Anson Battalion on the right. The 2nd Royal Marines were in support and the Howe Battalion was in reserve. Two Battalions of the 189th Brigade had been attached to the 188th Brigade. The Hood Battalion for counterattacks and the Hawke Battalion was in reserve.
The allied artillery put down a heavy barrage at zero hour, 5.40 a.m. The men left their jump-off line five minutes later, advancing behind the creeping barrage. The weather was bad and the men had to advance in the streaming rain. The terrain was littered with waterlogged shell holes. Notwithstanding the difficulty to cross the scarred landscape, the Battalions pushed on, and managed to keep in touch with the barrage. The 1st Marines on the left made substantial gains and they reported to have captured Banff House, by 7.20 a.m. The Anson Battalion moved on towards Varlet Farm, and managed to occupy positions near the Farm.
However the going had been very hard. Some men sank knee-deep in the mud, while advancing. And on top of the boggy terrain the assaulting parties were subjected to heavy machinegun fire, coming from positions across the Paddebeek stream. By 8 a.m. the center of the attack, came to a standstill. The situation in the center, became dire. So dire, that two companies of the Hood Battalion were sent forward to reinforce it. But this alone did not suffice and another Company was sent forward half an hour later, as the Germans threatened to cut off the first wave. No further advance was attempted. The battered and disorganized troops of the Anson Battalion weren’t able to continue the assault and consolidated positions between Bray Farm and Wallemolen.
Notwithstanding the small territorial gains, the 188th Brigade had captured five German strongpoints. The Brigade had nearly gained its entire first objective apart from Banff House and Source Trench. The men were eventually relieved under the cover of darkness. The Anson Battalion had suffered heavy casualties. Two officers were killed, seven were wounded and one went missing. 260 other ranks were killed, wounded or went missing. Able Seaman James Robert Pratt was one of the men who lost his life during the attack on Varlet Farm. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial. James was 19 years old.
The Royal Naval Division participated in the Battle of Passchendaele. It attacked on 26 October 1917 with the 188th Brigade. The attack of this Brigade was carried by the 1st Royal Marines on the left and the Anson Battalion on the right. The 2nd Royal Marines were in support and the Howe Battalion was in reserve. Two Battalions of the 189th Brigade had been attached to the 188th Brigade. The Hood Battalion for counterattacks and the Hawke Battalion was in reserve.
The allied artillery put down a heavy barrage at zero hour, 5.40 a.m. The men left their jump-off line five minutes later, advancing behind the creeping barrage. The weather was bad and the men had to advance in the streaming rain. The terrain was littered with waterlogged shell holes. Notwithstanding the difficulty to cross the scarred landscape, the Battalions pushed on, and managed to keep in touch with the barrage. The 1st Marines on the left made substantial gains and they reported to have captured Banff House, by 7.20 a.m. The Anson Battalion moved on towards Varlet Farm, and managed to occupy positions near the Farm.
However the going had been very hard. Some men sank knee-deep in the mud, while advancing. And on top of the boggy terrain the assaulting parties were subjected to heavy machinegun fire, coming from positions across the Paddebeek stream. By 8 a.m. the center of the attack, came to a standstill. The situation in the center, became dire. So dire, that two companies of the Hood Battalion were sent forward to reinforce it. But this alone did not suffice and another Company was sent forward half an hour later, as the Germans threatened to cut off the first wave. No further advance was attempted. The battered and disorganized troops of the Anson Battalion weren’t able to continue the assault and consolidated positions between Bray Farm and Wallemolen.
Notwithstanding the small territorial gains, the 188th Brigade had captured five German strongpoints. The Brigade had nearly gained its entire first objective apart from Banff House and Source Trench. The men were eventually relieved under the cover of darkness. The Anson Battalion had suffered heavy casualties. Two officers were killed, seven were wounded and one went missing. 260 other ranks were killed, wounded or went missing. Able Seaman James Robert Pratt was one of the men who lost his life during the attack on Varlet Farm. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial. James was 19 years old.
Sources 6
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"Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Uniform, 2018, pg. 146-147. Sources used |
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"The Royal Naval Division", Jerrold D., Uckfield, The Naval and Military Press, 2009, pg. 253-258. Sources used |
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Further reference |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/829744/pratt,-james-robert/ Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diary Royal Volunteer Reserve 8th (Anson) Battalion http://www.nmarchive.com/ Further reference |