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France 1917


fortyseven

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While doing the family tree I discovered an Alexander Stewart Pratt died in action in France 1917.

Lieutenant A.S. Pratt, Scottish Rifles, aged 22 years, was killed in action in France 1917 during WWI) Could someone please tell me where in France Alexander could have died and any information, would be very much appreciated.

Alexander was the second son of Alexander Stewart Pratt, Lieut-Colonel retired Kings Own Malta Regiment.

fortyseven

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CWGC -

Name: PRATT, ALEXANDER STEWART

Initials: A S

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Regiment/Service: Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

Unit Text: 12th Bn. attd. 10th Bn.

Date of Death: 24/03/1917

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Bay 6.

Memorial: ARRAS MEMORIAL

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...asualty=1619644

John

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Acting Serjeant London Reg. Landed in France 12 June 1916. Commisioned at some stage to Scottish Rifles -

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=2

Medal card of Pratt, Alexander Stewart

Corps Regiment No Rank

London Regiment 2725 Acting Serjeant

Scottish Rifles Second Lieutenant

Date 1914-1920

John

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CWGC -

Name: PRATT, ALEXANDER STEWART

Initials: A S

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Regiment/Service: Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

Unit Text: 12th Bn. attd. 10th Bn.

Date of Death: 24/03/1917

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Bay 6.

Memorial: ARRAS MEMORIAL

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...asualty=1619644

John

Thank you so much John for your prompt reply and information.

Do you know if there are individual headstone photographs.

fortyseven

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fortyseven,

"The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave." Unfortunately Lt. Pratt has no known grave.

John

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Fortyseven, hello and welcome to the forum.

Alexander first set foot in a war theatre on 12th June 1916. He was with the 11th London Regiment and later went to the Scottish Rifles.

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There are many possibilities:

Buried, but grave not located postwar

Buried, grave destroyed by artillery

Body was in a shellhole

Body was destroyed by shellfire

Body was recovered postwar, but not identified.

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Ulsterlad2,

Thank you for welcoming me to the forum and the information on Alexander.(War Theatre) I learn something new every day.

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Ulsterlad2,

Thank you for welcoming me to the forum and the information on Alexander.(War Theatre) I learn something new every day.

The 11th Battalion (The London Regiment) Finsbury Rifles were nicknamed the "Bunhill Pissers" .My Grandfather Rifleman James Ford served with the Finsbury Rifles from 1914 until 1919.The 11th were a Pre War Territorial Battalion.

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Welcome fortyseven

If he was attached to the 10th Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) then he was in 15th Division when killed. They were due to attack on 9th April as part of the 1st Battle of the Scarpe. They would have been in position in the trenches east of Arras, now covered by a large industrial estate between St-Laurent-Blangy and Tilloy-les-Mofflaines. Unfortunately I don't have the diaries for the battalion, the last time at Kew I got as far as 2 of the brigades of 15th Division but not the one with 10th S.R. in it. They are not available as yet on-line. If someone has the diary for March 1917 it could well say something of the death of Alexander as, being an officer, mention is often made. It could have been a trench raid from which he did not return; it is unusual for a man's grave to have been lost from where the unit was before the attack. The diaries will be next on my list for Kew, maybe in Summer but I am not sure. I will let you know if I get them and you have not found them elsewhere.

Jim

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Hello Jim,

Found your information very interesting and helps me get get a picture of what happened. I am new to all this but, have learnt so much, thanks to everyones help.

Yes, the the diary for March 1917 would probably say something of Alexander's death. I'll see if I manage to get them.

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Have another query.

I notice Alexander had a medal card, which I downloaded from the National Archives. Would his family have been given this or,what would have happened to it.

Think it was a Victory medal.There is something written and a x next to the word Victory.

fortyseven

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Fortyseven.

I think that the mics were for administration purposes only. I'm not aware of a copy being sent, for example along with the actuall medals, to the families.

The little :x: mark on the mic indicates that his two medals, The Victory & BWM were engraved to him as 2nd Lt Scottish Rifles and not A/Sergeant 11th London Regiment.

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Ulsterlad2,

I didn't realise he had 2 medals and engraved to him as 2nd Lt. Scottish Rifels.

You will have to excuse me as I am new to all this. Does the BMD stand for British War Medal. Would loved to have seen them.

fortyseven

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Commisioned at some stage to Scottish Rifles

London Gazette #29367, 15th November 1915. Link is http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/293...pplements/11308

The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).

Alexander Stewart Pratt to be temporary

Second Lieutenant. Dated 11th November,

1915.

Regards

Steve

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London Gazette #29367, 15th November 1915. Link is http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/293...pplements/11308

The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).

Alexander Stewart Pratt to be temporary

Second Lieutenant. Dated 11th November,

1915.

Regards

Steve

Many Thanks Steve for the London Gazette information.

fortyseven,

This link will help you with the medals.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...line/medals.asp

Regards. Llew.

Thank you kindly. I now know what the medals are like.

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Can anyone please help with this place name Plasyracre in Bala, North Wales.

It is on the reverse of a medal card. Unfortunately, I have tried putting it in Goole maps but doesn't recognise it.

fortyseven

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fortyseven

'Plasyracre' is the name of the house so you won't be able to find it on Google maps. According to the 1911 census a Catherine Jones (63 year old widow of private means) is living there with a domestic servant. If I read the list correctly the house is in Tegid Street, Bala.

Hope this helps.

Steve

edit. This would appear to be the house in question.... http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/462986

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Steve,

Thank you for doing the search for me and finding the house. It does help.

Very much appreciated.

Kind regards

fortyseven

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  • 6 years later...

Hello forty seven, sorry this is late from when you last posted. I recently have been given copies of some information regarding A.S.Pratt

If anyone can put me into contact with fortyseven would be much appreciated. Many thanks.

Edited by True blue
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If you click on his/her name in the post above yours, TrueBlue, there is an option to send a message.  Though I am not sure if you have to have made a certain number of posts on the forum first (maybe 5?) before you can contact another member direct like that.

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Please give it a go, True Blue. I understand one post is enough to give you access to the message system now.

 

CGM

 

 

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