Category: Military
Rank: Private and Sapper 230501 and 83733
Regiment or Ship: 2nd Infantry Labour Coy Northants (RE) and 61 Coy Labour Corps (RE)
Service Number(s): 230501 and 83733
Occupation: Carpenter and Joiner
Date of Birth: 1875
Place of Birth: Lewes, Sussex
Date of Death: 1958
Place of Death: Hastings District
Address: 6 Windsor Road, Bexhill
Photos and newspaper articles
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Family Information
Parents:
Stephen B. Pratt, born 1845, (Carpenter), and Elizabeth, born 1844.
Siblings:
Elizabeth M. Pratt, born 1870.
Edith Pratt, born 1872.
Thomas H. Pratt, born 1878.
The above from the 1881 Census when the family were living at 30 St. Nicholas Lane, Lewes, Sussex.
Spouse: Stephen married a Flora Welch on 4.8.1900 (she died in the same quarter as Stephen – June 1958) and they had six children:
Stephen George Pratt, born 2.5.1901, in Paddington.
Amy Flora Pratt, born 24.9.1902, in Fulham.
Walter Frederick Pratt, born 9.11.1903, in Fulham.
Helen Elizabeth Pratt, born 10.12.1906, in Fulham.
Thomas Brois Pratt, born 5.2.1912, in Battle.
John Pratt, born 1.8.1916, in Battle.
In the 1911 Census the family were living at 8 Windsor Road and Stephen was shown to be running a laundry business from home.
First World War Experience
Stephen was ‘deemed to have enlisted’ on 1.10.1916 (as a Private). On his enrolment form he was asked which branch of the Forces he preferred and he chose REC and stated the he didn’t wish to go into the Navy. He was given a medical classification of Bii Two.
He was 5’ 5¼” tall, with a chest – fully expanded of 35½”, with a range of expansion of 2½”. His Next of Kin was his wife, Flora Pratt, of 6 Windsor Road, Bexhill on Sea.
In civilian life he was a Carpenter and Joiner and was classified as ‘Skilled’.
On 12th January 1917 he was called up for Service and transferred to 2nd Infy. Lab. Coy. Northants. R.E. as a Sapper. On 6.2.1917 he was transferred to 1/6 Kent Field Coy. R.E. in Maldon.
On 3.1.1919 he was admitted to 41 Stationary Hospital, Amiens, with Neuralgia and later, on 6.1.1919, was admitted to 2 Stationary Hospital in Abbeville. He applied for a disability pension as he had rheumatism but the pension request was rejected.
He served in France and in the Eastern Theatre of War.
He received the Victory Medal on 24th August 1921.
Additional Information
Stephen’s name is Stephen Edwin and not Stephen Edward. On his ‘enrolment’ form he wrote himself Edwin but the Army scribe wrote Edward.