Local History Society research his life story and obtain official Headstone
Edward Henry Pratt was born in Cockerton 1889 and married Margaret Louisa Watson in 1908, they had 3 children, Nicholas 1911, Sidney 1913 and Marjorie 1916.
He joined the 5th Battalion DLI, 25th October 1915 and was sent to France February 1916. He was shot in the leg and neck and was sent home to recover for 3 months and was sent back to France on 15th June 1916.
He received a gunshot wound to his right shoulder on 16th September 1916 and was returned home until 21st March 1917 when he was sent back to France.
The trench he was in was bombed and he was struck by heavy trench support timbers, part buried and partially paralysed.
He was discharged from the Army in May 1918 as unfit for further service and he returned home to his family living in the Orlands, Aycliffe Village. He died from his wounds in Greenbank Hospital Darlington on 15th September 1918 and due to the family’s poverty was buried in an unmarked grave in Darlington West Cemetery.
Sadly his widow died 4 years later and the children were sent initially to live with Aunts and Uncles and they grew up not knowing the story of their parents.
He lay forgotten until Aycliffe Village Local History Society researched his war record and traced not only his grave but living grandchildren in Darlington who knew nothing about their grandfather or grandmother.
The Society persuaded the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that he should have an official headstone and 16 months later it was put in position on his grave. A special Dedication Service is being organised as the least that can be done to honour a local man who suffered terrible injuries and died for his country.
He was then forgotten for 96 years until members of the Local History group unearthed his story.
