Tom Pratt was born in 1917 and educated in Australia. He was commissioned from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in 1936. He joined his Regiment, Queen Victoria’s Own Corps of Guides, in time to take part in the operations on the North-West Frontier with his Regiment that same year.
At the outbreak of war, he was in the UK and transferred briefly to the Royal Tank Regiment and thence to the 15th/19th Hussars. He served with the 29th Armoured Brigade and 79 Armoured Division before transferring to Airborne Forces and serving with the Headquarters of both 1st and 6th Airborne Divisions.
At the end of the war, he moved to Palestine with the 6th Airborne Division and transferred to the 3rd Hussars in 1946.
Whilst in Palestine he received a Mention-in-Despatches and thereafter spent time either at Regimental Duty or on the Staff. At the time of the amalgamation of the 3rd and 7th Hussars, he was Second in Command of 3H.
In early 1958 he was appointed Training Manager of the DLOY (TA). His final appointment before leaving the Army in November 1962 was as DAA and QMG HQ BAOR. He was immediately appointed as a Retired Officer at the RAC Depot, and when he finally retired and moved back to Camberley he secured the post of Secretary of the North Hants Golf Club, an appointment in which his competence as a golfer, his administrative ability, and friendly personality ensured his success and popularity with all the members.
Tom was a warm-hearted character with a great sense of humour, but who never suffered fools gladly and made sure they always knew it. He was held in high regard by all ranks and there must be many ex-3rd Hussars who remember with affection the support and encouragement that he gave them when they joined the Regiment as young officers.
His generosity and affection for the Regiment are reflected by the number of legacies he left to Regimental Funds.
