Name
Henry Edward Pratt
8 Mar 1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/04/1918
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
148634
Royal Engineers
170th Tunnelling Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NOEUX-LES-MINES COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
III. C. 2.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Potters Bar, Little Heath & Bentley Heath Memorial, Potters Bar, All Souls Chapel Book of Remembrance, Potters Bar, Hadley Wood Memorial
Pre War
Henry Edward was born in Potters Bar on 8 Mar 1894, the son of Edward Pratt, platelayer, and Charlotte Elizabeth (nee Johnson), his mother died following his birth. The remaining family moved in with the paternal grandfather at Church Road, Potters Bar.
On the 1901 Census, Henry Edward was living at his Grandfathers house at 10, Church Road, Little Heath, Potters Bar with his Grandfather Samuel, Grandmother Sarah, John (Great-Uncle born 1846), Edward (father Born 1867), Henry W (Uncle born 1879), Anne (sister born 1893).
Edward’s father remarried in 1903 to Sarah Ann Welch.
On the 1911 Census recorded as Edward, he was still living with His Grandparents, Samuel & Sarah and their family of Henrietta (great aunt born 1857), John, and Grandsons Harry (born 1893) and William (born 1894). Edward’s father was living at 2 Great Northern Cottages.
The 1911 Census has his father and family of Sarah Ann, Thomas James Welch (born 1905) and Elisabeth Sarah (born 1908) living at 2 Great Northern Cottages, Waggon Road, Hadley Wood.
Henry remained with his grandfather until he enlisted on 9 Nov 1914. He is recorded as born in South Mimms, Middlesex and recorded as living in Barnet when he enlisted "In the Field".
Wartime Service
Edward attested on 20 Oct 1914 and was embodied on 9 Nov 1914 as Private 3790 Hertfordshire Regiment in the Territorial Force. He was posted to France on 20 Jan 1915 to join the 1st Battalion at Ypres. In 1915 the Battalion took part in the battles of Festubert (May) and Loos (Sep-Oct). Edward was attached to 107th Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers. He was discharged from the Territorial Force on 6 Jun 1916 and engaged as Sapper 148634 Royal Engineers in 170th Tunnelling Company and was enacted on 7 Jun 1916, ‘in the Field’. 170th Tunnelling Company R E was formed in Feb 1915 as part of 2 Division and were engaged in operations near Givench, Cuinchy and Bethune.
Edward was killed in action on 26 Apr 1918 at Bethune, Pas De Calais. The date of death would indicate that this was during the Battle of Lys.
Additional Information
Whilst his address remained 10 Church Road, Little Heath, Potters Bar. His Next of Kin was his father in Hadley Wood.
War Gratuity of £16 and arrears of £25 11s 1d was paid to his father.
Acknowledgments
Taff Williams, Neil Cooper
