Pte 15889 John Frederick Pratt

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

John Frederick Pratt was born on 23rd April 1894 in Liverpool, the son of Arthur Henry Pratt and his wife Emily (née Adair).His parents married in Roscommon on the 27th Dec 1889, Arthur was an accountant of 2 Mersey St, Liverpool, father Frederick a brewers agent, whilst Emily was of Long Wick(?), Roscommon, father John a farmer. They had moved to Liverpool, where their three children were born.  Fred had an older sister Emily and a younger sister Doris. He was baptised on 03rd June 1894 at St Michael in the Hamlet, Church of England. 

In 1901 the family is living at 20 Alwyn Street, Toxteth Park. They had lived at this address since at least 1890.

His father is aged 36, a railway audit clerk born Gloucester, mother Emily is 37 born Ireland, Emily is 10, Fred 6, and Doris 5. 

The 1911 Census shows the family have moved and are living at 35 Sunbourne Road, Liverpool.

His father, Arthur Henry, is aged 47, born 1864 in Gloucester, his occupation is recorded as a railway audit clerk, whilst his mother Emily is aged 48, born 1863 in Roscommon, Ireland. They have been married for twenty two years and have three children. Their children were all born in Liverpool; Emily Gertrude  is aged 20, born 1891 is a post office assistant, John Frederick aged 17, born 1894 is a clerk for an insurance company and Doris aged 14, born 1897 is at school.  

He enlisted on the 31st August 1914 at St George's Hall in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion (No 4 Company) of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 15889. He gave his age as twenty years and 120 days and his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being five feet six and a quarter inches tall, weighed 126lbs, 36” chest, with a dark complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He gave his religion as Church of England. 

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

His service records show: 

07.11.15: He embarked for France with his battalion.

10.2.16: Wounded to Field Ambulance. Admitted to 21 Casualty Clearing Station.

13.2.16: 2nd Canadian General Hospital at Le Trepont shell wound to head.

27.2.16: To 2 General Hospital, Rouen.

22.3.16: 30 I.B.D at Etaples.

12.5.16: Returned to 17th Battalion. 

He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 22, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

17th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July. 

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

He was initially declared Missing in action.  His father contacted the International Red Cross in hopes that his son had been taken prisoner, but was informed in a reply dated 12th September 1916 that they held no information on Fred.

A further enquiry from M. McNally, 169 Walton Lane, Stanley Park, received the same response on 12th October 1916. This is a sister of Pte. 24627 Thomas McNally of the 17th Bn., who was also declared Missing and later KIA at Guillemont.

By the beginning of October his family had been informed of Fred’s death, posting a notice in the Liverpool Post & Mercury on the 4th:

“July 30, killed in action, aged 22 years, John Frederick (Fred), K.L.R., dearly-loved and only son of Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Pratt, 35, Sunbourne Road, Michael’s Hamlet.”

His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Fred earned his three medals.

In the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading ‘Lost At The Battle of Guillemont’ his family paid tribute to Fred:

“In loving memory of Private Fred Pratt (1st Pals, Lewis Gun Section), killed in action at Guillemont, July 30, 1916. – From Father, Mother, and Sisters, 35, Sunbourne Road, Liverpool.”

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £8-10s went to his father. A number of pension cards exist in his father’s name, but the amount awarded, if any, is not specified.

His father received his personal effects which included one prayer card, five letters, a pouch, 1 razor strop, 1 safety razor, 1 air pillow.

Fred was commemorated on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

"In loving memory of Private Fred Pratt, (17th K.L.R.), who was killed in action July 30, 1916 at Guillemont, France. - Father, Mother, and Sisters, 35 Sunbourne Road."

In 1919 his parents were still at 35 Sunbourne Road with Doris, 23, and married daughter Emily, 28 (she had married a soldier in September 1918; it is likely he was still serving).

His mother died on the 14th Aug 1926, aged 62. 

Liverpool Daily Post 27th Aug 1926 

PRATT - August 14 at 35 Sunbourne Road, St Michael's, aged 62 years, EMILY, the dearly-beloved wife of Arthur Henry Pratt. Service at St Michael's-in-the-Hamlet today (Tuesday) at 2pm.; interment at Allerton Cemetery at 2.45pm. 

His father remarried the following year and in 1939 he is 75 and retired, and still at 35 Sunbourne Road with his wife, 59.

His father died on the 25th Aug 1944 aged 79.  

Liverpool Echo 27th Aug 1926 

PRATT – Aug. 25 at 35 Sunbourne Road, Liverpool, ARTHUR HENRY PRATT (late C.L.C.), beloved husband of Maude Pratt. Service at St Michael's Church on Tuesday next at 10:45 a.m.; interment at Allerton at 11.30am. (please accept this-the only-intimation.) 

Fred is also remembered on the following Memorials:

St Michael in the Hamlet Church, Liverpool

London And Lancashire Fire Insurance Co. Ltd. Book 

We currently have no further information on John Frederick Pratt, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.