Frederick William Robert Pratt was born circa 1887 in Lewisham, Kent (now Greater London). His parents were Robert William Pratt and Sarah Pratt.
In the 1911 census he is shown as aged 23 years and an Acting Bombardier serving in 'AA' Battery, Royal Horse Artillery at the Cantonments, Potchefstroom, Transvaal, South Africa. His service number was 43336.
In July 1913 he was appointed as an assistant postman in the Norwood, London, postal area and in June 1914 he was promoted to the grade of postman in the West London district.
On 5 August 1914 he married Caroline Maud Steer (1889-1985) in St Luke's Church, West Norwood, London, where in the marriage register he is shown as Frederick William Robert Pratt, aged 27 years, a bachelor and a postman, living 16a Durban Road, West Norwood and that his father was a deceased stonemason, whilst his wife was described as aged 24 years and a spinster residing at 26 Palace Road, Streatham Hill, London, the daughter of William George Steer, a coachman.
When their daughter, Frederica Maud Pratt (1915-2006) was baptised on 2 May 1915 at St Luke's Church, West Norwood, the baptismal register shows her family were living at 158 Hamilton Road, West Norwood and that her father was a postman.
Their second daughter, Sybil Roberta Pratt (1917-1991) was baptised on 2 April 1917 at Emanuel Church, South Croxted Road, West Norwood, where the baptismal register confirms the family still resided at 158 Hamilton Road, West Norwood and that her father was recorded as a soldier (R.H.A.).
He died holding the rank of Corporal at the Brook War Hospital, Shooters Hill, Woolwich, London, on 17 October 1918. His death was registered as Frederick Pratt, aged 32 years in the 4th quarter of 1918 in the Woolwich Registration District, London. His body was buried in Plot 31, Grave 2048, in the West Norwood Cemetery and Crematorium, Norwood Road, London, SE27 9JU and he is on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Screen Wall as '43336 CORPORAL F.W.R.PRATT ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY 17.10.1918 AGE 31 31 2048'.
Following his death, their son, Frederick Robert Pratt (1919-1993) was born on 4 March 1919. He was baptised on 27 April 1919 in Emanuel Church, South Croxted Road, West Norwood and the baptismal registers show his family were still at 158 Hamilton Road, West Norwood. His father was described as a Corpl. R.H.A. (postman).
On 13 February 1919 his army effects totalling £3-5s-0d were sent to his widow who was also sent his £25-10s-0d war gratuity on 15 December 1919. He was posthumously awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as 'PRATT, R.' on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the , on the , on the, on the and on .
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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