David Thomas Clark Rigg PRATT
Personal
Born: 1891
Birth registration: Victorian Births, Deaths & Marriages Registration No. 35398
Birthplace: Melton
Parents: Mathew Pratt
Elizabeth Ann Arnell
Died: 20 November, 1951
Place of death: Registration No. 14623
Awards and Honours
- British War Medal 1914-20
- Victory Medal
Battalions
59th Battalion, D Company
Events
Enlistment
Regimental Service Number: 1266
Enlistment date: 13 September, 1915 Melbourne
Age at enlistment: 23 years 11 months
Religion: Church of England
Marital Status: Single
Next of kin: Father: Matthew Pratt, Melton
Wife: Mrs E.E. Pratt, 50 Aaragon Rd., Twickenham, England
Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 10 _ inches
Weight: 12 stones
Complexion: Fresh
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Distinctive marks: Scars: Left shoulder blade & right shoulder, left buttocks, shins
Embarkation ship: Runic.
Rank: Private
Return Date: 23 July, 1919
Return Vessel: H.T. Canberra.
Arrival at Australia: 11 September, 1919.At: Melbourne
Discharge Date: 19 October, 1919
War Service Summary
02/12/1915 - To Castlemaine
28/11/1915 - Medical report sates Rheumatism for 10 years
15/12/1915 - Discharged medically unfit; not a result of misconduct
13/03/1916 - Re-enlisted; 24 years and 4 months
20/06/1916 - Embarked from Melbourne aboard Runic
16/09/1916 - Proceeded to France and joins 6th battalion
26/10/1916 - With 59th Battalion
23/10/1916 - To hospital in the field; sick
09/11/1916 - Rejoins battalion
16/11/1916 - To hospital; sick in the field
28/11/1916 - Admitted to hospital; pleurisy; Rouen
20/12/1916 Rejoined battalion
08/02/1917 - Admitted to hospital; Laryngitis & bronchitis
13/02/1917 - Embarked on H.S. Cambria for hospital in England
16/04/1917 - Admitted to Base hospital; bronchitis
14/10/1917 - Proceeded overseas
23/02/1918 - Married Elizabeth Ellen Pemberton while on leave
07/03/1918 - Field General Court Martial: AWL 12 days; forfeits 81 days pay
17/03/1918 - Detached to 5th Australian Division H/Q for duty on coal dump, France
25/03/1918 - Rejoined unit
16/04/1918 - Wounded In Action Left thigh
22/04/1918 - Invalided to England; Gun Shot Wound, left thigh and left hand
26/09/1918 - Absent from parade
16/01/1919 - AWL 3 days; forfeited 3 days pay
01/02/1919 - AWL 5 days; forfeited 8 days pay
04/03/1919 - AWL 9 days; forfeited 10 days pay
23/07/1919 - Embarked, with wife
11/09/1919 - Arrived in Melbourne
19/10/1919 - Discharged Melbourne
War Service Commemerated
Life After the War
23/02/1918 - Married Elizabeth Ellen Pemberton (1893-1941) aged 25, widow, of 50 Arragon Rd., Twickenham. Her father, Simeon Allen Afancey, was a deceased coal merchant. David Pratt is shown as residing at the same address. His father, Mathew Pratt, is shown as a farm labourer.
25/10/1947 - Married Annie Breen (Nancy)
08/08/1955 - Nancy Pratt, wife, writes c/- Melton P.O.
Place/s of residence:
24/07/1933 - Madden St. Footscray
1914 - Melton
1924 - 24 Jerrold St., Flemington
1931 - 29 Church St., Footscray
1936 -Madden St., Footscray
1942 - 63 Eleanor St., Footscray North
1949 - 30 Scovell cres., Footscray North
Occupations:
Farm labourer
Labourer
Date of death: 20/11/1951 Reg. # 14623
Place of burial:
Other relevant information:
Parents:
Mathew Pratt, born October 1854 Durham, England
married Elizabeth Ann Arnell 30/06/1881 and died at Melton in 1929.
1903 census lists Mathew as a woodcutter & Elizabeth as Home Duties
Elizabeth Ann Arnell was born in 1860 at Kingston, Tasmania.
10 children: 3 girls, 7 boys
Note: 26/05/1916 - Letter from mother in Robert's file; concerned that she has not seen Robert or David as she has to work because husband is ill. (Father illiterate; mother weak skills)
Note: 16/10/1916 - Again, mother writes that "and as not recived one letter from me at home He gone seven months I think this a shame he cant here from home and asks for help."
Reply dated 20/10 states that some mail has been slow in delivery and giving his postal details.
Additional Information
The Age
12 April 1918 , p. 1
PRATT. - In loving memory of our son, Private - R. H. W. Pratt, who died of wounds 12th April, 1917.
Gone dear Bob; yes, gone for ever,
Gone from this world of sorrow and pain;
Gone from a mother that loved you so dearly. Never on this earth to/ meet again. As through this lonely world I wander My thoughts will ever be of you.
In memory I will see you ever—
I loved you better than you Know.
- Inserted by his loving parents Melton and Private D.T.Pratt (on active service)
Sources
Service Record
Newspaper accounts