Name
Stanley James Pratt
2 Oct 1899
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/07/1918
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sergeant
100029
Royal Air Force
48th Sqdn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS FLYING SERVICES MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted - Berkhamsted Collegiate School, Tring Town Memorial St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring
Pre War
Stanley James Pratt was born on 2 Oct 1899 (baptised 12 Nov 1899) in Tring to Jabez Pratt, draper, and Rosa Louisa (nee Wright).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents and Stanley were ling at 39, High Street, Tring along with 5 drapery assistants.
On the 1911 Census Stanley was a student at Berkhamsted College and living with his parents at ’Woodleigh’, Western Road, Tring. His father was an omnibus manager and insurance agent.
Wartime Service
Stanley joined the Royal Flying Corps on 2 Oct 1917 as Cadet 100029 and was stationed at Eastchurch. He became a member of Royal Air Force on 1 Apr 1918 on its formation from RFC and Royal Navy Air Service. He was promoted to Sergeant on 19 Apr 1918 and having re-mustered on 8 Jun as Sergeant (Observer) was posted to 48 Squadron. This squadron had been the first to be equipped with the Bristol FB 2 (Bristol fighter) and had arrived in France in Mar 1917.
On 5 Jul 1918 Stanley as observer and his pilot Lt B S Hillis took off in aircraft FB2 C771 and did not return, being posted missing and later presumed killed in action. Stanley is remembered on the Arras Flying Services Memorial. (his Canadian pilot is buried in Hangard Communal Cemetery near Villers-Bretonneux. There are a number of Unknowns buried there and it might be that Stanley is one.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
