Staff Sergeant ALBERT ROBERT PRATT Military Provost Staff Corps

[Tanyapratt]

Hi my Great Grandfather Albert Robert Pratt served in the UK Army from 1901-1922 in the military provost staff corps. I can’t make out his rank num on his character record and only have a photo copy and it’s the only paperwork I have relating to my Great Grandfather’s military career. I’d be really grateful if someone could help me find out more about him as I’m struggling. Thankyou

[kenf48]

4 hours ago, Tanyapratt said:

I’d be really grateful if someone could help me find out more about him as I’m struggling. Thankyou

Welcome to the GWF

Staff sergeant Albert Robert Pratt was originally numbered1528 and served in the Military Provost Staff Corps in the Great War He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal indicating he served in a theatre of war, in all probability France and Flanders after December 31st 1916. He was also awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct medal in 1921.

The seven digit number shown on the Character Certificate (shame there is a fold but I read it as 7717038)  was allocated after 1920 and his full service record may be available. Unfortunately for now these records are in the process of being transferred from the MOD to the National Archives, although I recall a recent post which stated they would be made available on the subscription family history site in due course, but don't quote me on that.

The number is in the block allocated to the MPSC https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/soldiers/a-soldiers-life-1914-1918/new-british-army-numbers-issued-in-1920/

As a consequence any surviving service records are not available online at present.

This link to the National Army  Museum has a link for further information

https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/military-provost-staff-corps

to the AG museum  at Winchester which claims to have service records from 1920 https://agcmuseum.org.uk might be worth contacting them

I've amended your title slightly to attract any MPSC specialists on the forum.  

My guess is that during the Great War he would have served at a Detention Centre at  one of the Base Depots in France.

You can download the Medal Index Card from TNA (free if you register)https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D4704160

(you will get six cards on the sheet which sometimes confuses folk)

or

it is available on Ancestry also free I believe 

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/1152073:1262?tid=&pid=&queryId=9386e500-266a-4634-8868-2cd70c4bac8c&_phsrc=GLh3&_phstart=successSource

The card references the Medal Roll which has no more information on his Great War Service 

There is information on how to read the card, the medals and researching soldiers of the Great War on the Long Long Trail website link top left.

Often basic biographical information can help to find own his military service, e.g. in the 1921 Census he is shown as married, age 38 years and 9 months  working with the Army of Occupation at Bonner Wall, Cologne Germany (whether that was the HQ or the detention centre I don't know).

In the meantime good luck with your research. 

 

 

[Tanyapratt]

Oh my goodness Thankyou so so much for the information. It’s way more than I could have hoped for and I’m really very grateful that you’ve taken the time to help me. It’s really kind of you. Thankyou 

[FROGSMILE]

An important point is that you only have a part of his story.  With 21-years and 175 days service, which was a full, military pension earning career, he must have served in another arm/corps of the Army previously.  The Military Provost Staff Corps (MPSC) only recruited existing soldiers with the highest standards of discipline and devotion to duty to act as warders in military prisons, or detention centres, and just like the peacetime Corps of Military Police, did not accept direct entry from recruited civilians.

Usually a man applying to join the corps had to have at least one good conduct badge (inverted cuff stripe left forearm) for 2 to 3 years of blemish free regular army service and have been recommended as suitable by his commanding officer.  Transferees could in theory come from any part of the Army, but by far the majority came from the combatant arms of cavalry, artillery and infantry.  There is a fellow from a similar background here: https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/251886-military-provost-staff-corps/

I enclose a photo of the full dress tunic (review order ceremonial) for a senior non commissioned officer of staff rank in the MPSC.  It is a ‘sealed pattern’ (military term for sample piece) and so has different rank on each opposing arm.  The minimum rank upon successful transfer was sergeant, which was a significant motivation for applications.

The WW1 working uniform of a staff sergeant is shown in the B&W photo below.  The type of leather waistbelt shown was a typical feature and, although not shown here, an ostentatious whistle chain hanging down the front edge of the jacket was also tantamount to a badge of office, similar to that worn by military policemen.

 

 

Edited 10 April by FROGSMILE

[Tanyapratt]

Thankyou… yes indeed I have much more research to do. Now I have a number to help with my research it’s great as I’ve been going through hundreds of pages trying to trace him so this info will narrow it down. Thankyou for your help and info. Much Appreciated 

[FROGSMILE]

3 minutes ago, Tanyapratt said:

Thankyou… yes indeed I have much more research to do. Now I have a number to help with my research it’s great as I’ve been going through hundreds of pages trying to trace him so this info will narrow it down. Thankyou for your help and info. Much Appreciated 

His regimental number would have changed when he transferred.  It’s not like now when a man’s number stays with him for life.

Edited 10 April by FROGSMILE

[Allan1892]

9 hours ago, kenf48 said:

although I recall a recent post which stated they would be made available on the subscription family history site in due course, but don't quote me on that.

My earlier post:

 

[Allan1892]

Images of the 1921 Census (courtesy of Find My Past)

[esco]

THE 1911 Census appears to show him as a 28 year old corporal in the Suffolk Regiment .

[FROGSMILE]

9 minutes ago, esco said:

THE 1911 Census appears to show him as a 28 year old corporal in the Suffolk Regiment .

Brilliant, well found.  That’s a good example of the accelerated promotion that was routinely achieved by such transfers, as promotion was based on time moderated by the achievement of certain qualifications. Uniform was scarlet faced yellow in 1911, but before the Boer War the facings were white, so be would’ve worn both. 

Edited 10 April by FROGSMILE

[Provost]

@Tanyapratt

Tanya,

Welcome to the Forum. Albert was born on the 7th August 1882 in the Parish of St Clement in Ipswich. He enlisted into the Suffolk Regiment No 5691 at Stowmarket on 11th December 1900 aged 18 years 3 months, occupation shear-maker. He was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and South Africa 1902. On 21st August 1912, he married Ethel Marion Parsey (born 18th November 1887 - the youngest daughter of Henry Benjamin Parsey of Clifton House, Stowmarket) at Stowmarket Parish Church by the Rev Frank Child - Frederick Albert John was born on 10th January 1915 at Dublin, and Ada Muriel was born on 2nd July 1917 at Stafford.

He served in France  between 18th March and 26th December 1918, and again between 10th January and 30th April 1919. He was awarded the British War and Victory Medals, together with the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1919. He was discharged from the Army as a Staff Sergeant at Aldershot on 3rd June 1922 on the termination of his second period of engagement - his character on discharge was Exemplary.

In 1939, Albert is a carpenter's labourer & ARP living at 93 Upland Estate South View, Stowupland, Suffolk, together with Ethel, a housewife and their children - Frederick a process worker in a cellulose & lacquer factory - & a member of the Auxilliary Fire Service) and Ada (a leather glove worker).

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Richard

 

[Tanyapratt]

Thankyou so much for the information and photos. It’s absolutely incredible stuff and I’m blown away. I’m very proud of my great grandfather.

Thankyou again for your kindness