Birth: Albert Ernest Pratt was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1893 to Matilda Annette Emily and Henry James Pratt. He had two sisters Alice Emily Elinor and Una Jane Gertrude.
Religion, School and Occupation: Anglican who attended Auckland Grammar School in New Zealand before becoming a clerk.
Enlistment: Albert joined up in Liverpool, NSW on the 6th of June 1915.
Embarkation: He departed Sydney NSW on the 8th of October 1915 on HMAT Warilda A69.
Service Details:
- Private 3/8/15 – 6/1/16 10th Reinforcements, 1st Battalion, 1st A.I.F. Division
- Promoted Corporal 11/1/16 – 13/2/16 1st Battalion, 1st A.I.F. Division
- Transferred Corporal 13/2/16 – 15/4/16 53rd Battalion, 14th Brigade, 5th Division
- Promoted Second Lieutenant 15/4/16 – 19/7/16 53rd Battalion, 14th Brigade, 5th Division
- Killed in Action – 19/7/16
Medals: 1914/15 Star, Victory Medal, British War Medal.
Death: Albert died on the 19th of July 1916 at Fleurbaix, Fromelles, France during action. It was reported that he was in the 2nd line of German enemy trenches and was shot through the heart. He died without suffering. The position was retaken by the enemy and therefore his body was not able to be recovered.
Burial: Originally he had no known grave after the Battle of Fromelles in 1916, but in 2010 DNA testing was able to be used and identified him. He was reburied in 2010 in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery at I. E. 10.
Sources:
http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C122075
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/589428/
http://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/279409
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1407575
Click to access RWDFromelles.pdf
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1652567
Australian Soldiers of the First World War 