Pragnell, GF

Captain George Frederick Pragnell

George was born on June 11^th 1891, the eldest child, and only son, of Leonora Pragnell and her husband, also called George, a warehouse owner who would later serve as Deputy Lord Lieutenant of London, as well as receiving a knighthood. He was at Dulwich for two years, from the start of 1906 until the end of 1907, during which time he was a boarder in Elm Lawn. After leaving Dulwich he became an accountant before joining the Army as a member of the Honourable Artillery Company.

By the time the H.A.C. departed for France in September 1914 George had been promoted to Sergeant, and he spent his first six weeks overseas working on the lines of communication. In February 1915 he took up a commission, at first with The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) before that summer transferring to the West Kent Regiment where he was made a Lieutenant. He was also made a recruiting officer, charged with raising members of the 11^th (Lewisham) Battalion of the regiment, particularly focused in Lewisham and the surrounding areas, such as Deptford and Catford. During 1916, by now having been promoted to Captain, he returned to France where he was given a position working at staff headquarters of the 41^st Division; in February 1917 he was promoted further, being made Brigade Major in charge of the 123^rd Brigade. On July 23^rd that year he was on patrol near Ypres with his Brigadier-General when they were struck by a shell, killing them both.