Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (760238 Sjt: J. Prater. C.242/A.Bde: R.F.A.) very fine £70-£90

M.S.M. London Gazette 14 June 1918.

Joseph Prater was born in the Parish of Silksworth, Sunderland, around 1892, and attested for the 3rd Northumbrian Brigade, Royal Field Artillery on 1 April 1913. A coal miner, he served in France from 18 April 1915, his Army Service Record noting the amputation of his right ring finger on 23 May 1918 due to an accident whilst in command as Sergeant:
‘I had two men short on the gun, so I took over the duties of the No. 3 (firing gun). No. 2 had not pulled the breech open quick enough to extract the empty shell case, and I put my hand to the shell case to pull it out. No. 2 thought that the gun had been loaded up again and he clashed the breech and my finger was caught, causing the loss of my 4th finger, right hand.’

Evacuated to Military Hospital in Blackpool, Prater later returned to service at the Royal Artillery and Tank Corps Command Depot; according to his Service Record, he was soon in trouble with his superiors for ‘without reasonable excuse, allowing to escape a person committed to his charge.’ Tried by District Court Martial, Prater was commuted to the rank of a Corporal on 24 September 1918. He was discharged a little over 2 months later on 14 December 1918.