Boatswain Herbert Pratt
HM Submarine K-13, Royal Navy
Malvern Commemoration: St Matthias Malvern Link
Burial/Commemoration: Faslane Cemetery
Nature of Death: Died aboard the K-13 in the Gareloch 29/1/1917
Age: 33
Next of Kin: Husband of Amy Pratt (nee Hirts) of Siverdale, Somers Park Avenue and 50 Belmont Road, Gillingham
Previous Employment: Pre-war sailor
Biography
Herbert Pratt, the son of George Pratt, an Excise Officer served in the Royal Navy [1] for some years before the Great War [2]. He married Amy Hirts at St Peter’s Church [3] on 30th March 1907 and at this time gave his occupation as Petty Officer aboard HMS Barfleur [4]. By 1917 he was serving aboard the new, ill-fated K-Class of oil-fired steam submarine, K-13 [5]. The after compartments of the vessel, whilst performing a dive test flooded and 31 men lost their lives.
The members of the West of Scotland Branch, the Submariners Association, hold a memorial service every year on the fourth Sunday in January, to those who died onboard the K13.
Herbert Pratt is also commemorated at the Church of the Ascension, Newtown [6].
Malvern News 17/2/17
David Lutwyche 2004
Article printed from Malvern Remembers: https://www.malvernremembers.org.uk
URL to article: https://www.malvernremembers.org.uk/ww1-profiles/herbert-pratt
URLs in this post:
[1] Royal Navy: http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/
[2] Great War: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I
[3] St Peter’s Church: http://www.malvernremembers.org.uk/memorials/st-peters-church-cowleigh
[4] HMS Barfleur: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Barfleur_%281892%29
[5] K-13: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_K13
[6] Church of the Ascension, Newtown: https://www.malvernremembers.org.uk/memorials/church-of-the-ascension-newtown
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