Name
Harry Prentice
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/07/1916
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2910
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
2nd/1st Bucks Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LAVENTIE MILITARY CEMETERY, LA GORGUE
III. C. 24.
France
Headstone Inscription
GOD BE WITH YOU TILL WE MEET AGAIN
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring
Pre War
Harry Prentice was born in 1898 in Tring (Berkhamsted registration district) the son of Fred and Eliza Prentice.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Harry and Albert (born 1900) were living at 28 Charles Street, Tring where his father was working as a House Painter. They had moved to 49 King Street, Tring by 1911, and the family consisted of parents, Harry, Albert, Katie (born 1903), John (born 1905), Walter (born 1907) and Arthur (born 1909).
Wartime Service
Harry enlisted in Aylesbury, Bucks as Private 2910 and served with the 2/1st Battalion, Oxford & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. This was a Territorial Unit and was initially 2nd Line (intended to provide training and replacements) in 2nd South Midland Division. It was warned for overseas duty and be came part of 184 Brigade 61st (South Midland) Division and went to France on 24 May 1916. They were to take part in the diversionary attack at Fromelles ( 19 – 20 July 1916) which was intended to induce the Germans to switch reserves from the Battle of Somme. The attack was unsuccessful with severe casualties for the British and Australian troops. Harry was killed in action on 19 Jul 1916 during the initial attack when four waves of men attacked the enemy's trenches but enemy fire was so heavy that few men actually reached the German parapet, and they did not return.
From the Bucks Herald 5th August 1916: “THE WAR. − PRIVATE HARRY PRENTICE KILLED. − News was received at the end of last week that another Tring lad had lost his life in the great advance. Harry Prentice, of the Bucks Territorials, was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Prentice of King-street, and though then not quite 17, joined up soon after the outbreak of the war. He went to the Front last May. No particulars beyond the fact that he was killed on the night of July 19th are yet to hand. His parents received a letter from the Sergeant-Major of the Company, in which he speaks of Harry as a quiet, unassuming boy, always ready to do his bit without a grumble, and as one who would be much missed by his comrades. The Chaplain of the 2/1 Bucks Battalion, in a letter expressing his deep sympathy and sincere regret, said: ‘I thought it might be a comfort to you to know that I buried him with his comrades in a burial ground, where a cross has been erected over his grave with name on, etc. His grave will be well cared for.'”
Additional Information
His father Frederick received a war gratuity of £7 10s and pay owing of £6 0s 11d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, tringhistory.tringlocalhistorymuseum.org.uk
