James William Pratt (1921-1998) Flight Lieutenant WWII

SummaryPeter Pratt, writes "This is an unfinished story written in pencil in a cashbook by my eldest brother, Flight Lieutenant James William Pratt. His wife Margaret found the book after he died in 1998 aged 77. James was never one to talk about the war; he once said, "it was a terrible experience Peter".

Perhaps that is why his book hadn’t been completed. On the cover James had pencil-sketched a desert scene, a date palm, mosque and a Beaufighter in flight. Reading through my brothers hand written account of that gallant voyage to war, brought a lump to my throat. Also in the book are many photographs, some that I presume he took and a sketch of the tent he stayed in for two years 1941-43 while in the western desert. Turning another page, he had sketched the Troop Ship the M.V. Dominion Monarch, surrounded by her Royal Navy escorts while ploughing through the Atlantic towards Freetown West Africa. My sister-in-law also gave me photographs of James and his comrades taken in the countries he was based during the conflict: Libya, Egypt, Cyprus, Greece and Italy. He joined the RAF in April 1939 as a 17 year old. Soon after joining James was transferred Wales for gunnery training at the Cardigan Bay bomb ranges, flying ‘Fairy Battles’. In 1940, he was stationed at Manston in Kent, then Croydon London and Milton. In 1941 he was attached to 501, 272 and 252 Squadron, Hurricanes Wellingtons and Beaufighter, bound for the Middle East".

After the war James remained in active service; promoted to sergeant and spent two year tours while in RAF: Gibraltar, Tripoli, Cyprus, Kenya, Isle of Man and many other postings throughout the UK as a commissioned officer until he retired in 1974 as Flight Lieutenant.

Publications

For the Africa Star by James William Pratt

Usage

AcknowledgementTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries

Personal Information

First Name(s)James William SurnamePrattDate of Birth4 April 1905Date of Death1998

Whānau

MotherElizabeth RaperFatherJames William Pratt

Partner

PartnerJoy

Partner

PartnerMargaret

Military Service

Unit North Africa R.A.F.ConflictWorld War, 1939-1945

Relates To

PeopleTauranga Memories (2011-2021) - People

Admin

AuthorTauranga City Libraries Staff - HCArchived Kete Linkhttps://perma.cc/J52A-Z4GAType of ContributionLibrary story Last edited by: Matanga Taonga Tuku Iho Maori

Last edited by: Matanga Taonga Tuku Iho Maori

TaxonomyStories | People

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James William Pratt (1921-1998) Flight Lieutenant WWII