A Second World War Mention in Despatches, post war Malayan Emergency and 1953 Coronation group awarded to Group Captain R.D. Pratt, Royal Air Force who first joined the Accountant Branch, Royal Air Force in 1927 seeing service in Iraq for two years in the mid-1930s. Having returned to the UK on 29th February 1936, he would still be serving at the outbreak of the Second World War, and would be mentioned in despatches in the London Gazette of 14th January 1944. He would reach his final rank of Group Captain on 1st January 1949 and would subsequently see service in Malaya during the Malayan Emergency and would be present during the 1953 Coronation celebrations with HQ No. 90 Group. Retiring on 1st December 1958, he died on 21st April 1980.
Group of 5: 1939-1945 Star; Defence Medal; War Medal with Mention in Despatches oakleaf; General Service Medal 1918-1962, EIIR Br:Omn bust, 1 Clasp: Malaya; (GP CPT. R.D. PRATT. R.A.F.) Coronation Medal 1953. Court-mounted for display.
Condition: court-mounted for display, Nearly Extremely Fine
Rowland Davies Pratt was born on 21st August 1905 and joined the Royal Air Force as a Pilot Officer on Probation with the Accountant Branch on 3rd December 1927 before on 17th January 1928 being posted to the Accountant Branch at the R.A.F. base at Calshot, Coastal Area, No. 10 Group, administering No. 201 (Flying Boat) Squadron at Calshot, Fawley, Southampton. On 3rd September 1928 he was promoted Flying Officer in the Accountant Branch.
On 1st February 1931 he would be posted to the Accountant Branch, Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment Coastal Area at Felixstowe, Suffolk, before on 23rd May 1932 he would be posted back to No.210 (Flying Boat) Squadron, Southampton.
From 10th November 1933 he would serve with the Accountant Branch, Station Headquarters Hinaidi at Iraq Command, being promoted Flight Lieutenant on 3rd December 1934. He would be posted to the Accountant Branch of No.84 (Bomber) Squadron, HQ and 3 Flights at Shaibah, Iraq on 12th January 1935.
Then returning to the UK, on 29th February 1936, he would be posted to the Accountant Branch at No.2 Flying Training School, Training Command, No.23 Group at Digby, Lincoln. On 27th January 1937 he would be transferred to the Accountant Branch of R.A.F. Station, Upwood, No.2 (B) Group with Nos 52, 63 and 108 (B) Squadrons.
On 1st March 1940 he would be promoted from Flight Lieutenant (Temporary Wing Commander) to be Squadron Leader and on 19th April 1940 he would be posted to the Deputy Directorate of Equipment, Department of the Air, Member for Supply and Organisation, Air Ministry.
On 1st March 1942 he would be promoted to Wing Commander (Temporary), Accountant Branch being mentioned in despatches on 14th January 1944. On 1st April 1947 the Royal Air Force Secretarial Branch was formed and on 1st July 1947 Pratt would be promoted to Wing Commander, before on 1st January 1949 he would be promoted to Group Captain.
On 21st June 1949 he would be posted as an Accountant to the Administrative Staff, Reserve Command, R.A.F. White Waltham, Maidenhead. He would later be present at an Accountant No.90 Group, Headquarters, R.A.F. Medmenham during the 1953 Coronation celebrations. No. 90 Group was formed on 25th April 1946 as No.90 (Signals) group at Danesfield Court, Medmenham near Marlow, Buckinghamshire, to take over the functions of Nos.26, 60 and 100 Groups and No.80 Wing. It was later redesignated Signals Command on 3rd November 1958.
At some stage Pratt saw service in Malaya during the Malayan Emergency
From 1953-1958 he would be an Associate, Institute of Chartered Accountants, before retiring from the Secretarial Branch on 1st December 1958. He died on 21st April 1980.
