Lieutenant

Lieutenant

A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...

 Walbanke Ashby Pritt, MC

Military Cross

The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....

, DFC

Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)

The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...

 (31 January 1897 – 27 January 1928) was a British World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 flying ace

Flying ace

A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...

 credited with five aerial victories. He flew with the Royal Flying Corps

Royal Flying Corps

The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...

 in 1917/1918; flying Sopwith Pup

Sopwith Pup

The Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability, the aircraft proved very...

s.

Early life

Lt Pritt was born 31 January 1897 and grew up in the Leamington Spa

Leamington Spa

Royal Leamington Spa, commonly known as Leamington Spa or Leamington or Leam to locals, is a spa town in central Warwickshire, England. Formerly known as Leamington Priors, its expansion began following the popularisation of the medicinal qualities of its water by Dr Kerr in 1784, and by Dr Lambe...

, Warwickshire

Warwickshire

Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 area. His mother was Marguerite Bianca Selina Pritt and his father was Charles Pritt, a Cotton Factor (commission merchant).

His RFC flight records indicate as a civilian he attended St Peter's School

St Peter's School, York

St Peter's School is a co-educational independent boarding and day school located in the English City of York, with extensive grounds on the banks of the River Ouse...

 in York

York

York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...

 from September 1909 to February 1916 and then attended the Civilian School of Flight from March-September 1916. Walbanke passed his entrance exams for Sandhurst

Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...

 in February 1916 but was rejected as being too small.

At some point Lt Pritt must have joined the Army because records show he was a Private (s/n 39015) in the West Yorkshire Regiment. After being rejected by Sandhurst he opted to try flying. On 16 September 1916 student Pritt passed his Royal Aero Club flying test (RAeC Cert #3564) in a Caudron of the Wallisdown School in Bournemouth

Bournemouth

Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...

 and was accepted by the RFC for flying training. He underwent training at the Cadet School at Denham, the 2 School of Military Aeronautics at Oxford

Oxford

The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...

, 41 Reserve Squadron, and 15 Reserve Squadron were he gained his RFC wings and was appointed a Flying Officer on 2 June 1917. He was then posted to 40 Reserve Squadron and on to France on 4 July 1917 where he joined 66 Squadron. His flying career lasted from 1916-1920 as a civilian, RFC and finally a RAF pilot after the war.

First World War

Lt Pritt gained his fame during a five month period, 4 July to 14 November 1917, while flying Sopwith Pups with No. 66 Squadron. During this period he became an ace and earned the Military Cross. The citation is dated 24 August 1917. He is officially credited with five kills; but there is evidence of a possible sixth victory. During his career he flew with several squadrons (44, 153, 76, 141 and 25) in addition to 66 Squadron. His flight records also show he flew several different aircraft (Maurice Farman Short Horn MFSH, Aircos, Be2a, c7e, Be12, Sopwith Pups & Camels, D.H.6’s, and Caudrons).

DFC Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in attacking a hostile aerodrome with exceptional dash and determination. Having reached his objective and dropped bombs from a very low altitude, he then attacked and destroyed two hostile machines almost as soon as they had left the ground. A machine-gun then opened upon him from the aerodrome, which he immediately attacked. Both on his outward and homeward journey he was under very heavy machine-gun and anti-aircraft fire. On another occasion he attacked a motor-car, and shot one of the occupants from about 50 feet, afterwards attacking infantry on the march and inflicting severe casualties upon them. He has at all times shown constant gallantry and fine offensive spirit.
On 15 February 1918 Lt Pritt was injured while flying a 44 Squadron Sopwith Camel (B7332); he had an engine failure at 500 feet over Hainault Farm, UK, flying downwind he stalled and spun in.

Post war

On 19 April 1920 he was granted a Short Service Commission by the RAF at the rank of Lieutenant. During August 1920, he failed the RAF Flight Instructor Course at the Central Flying School. Accompanying note states “did not take exams, absent sick, CFS cat B, graded unsuitable as instructor at present”. He resigned his commission on 12 August 1920 and was denied permission to retain his rank because of “unsatisfactory dealings with cheques”.

Lt Pritt was married in 1925. There is no record of any children and his wife was still referred to as Mrs. Pritt until her death in 1965. Records indicate Lt Pritt was a commercial artist and poultry farmer until his untimely death on 27 January 1928 at the age of 31 in an automobile accident near Bagby in North Yorkshire.