My family kept everything! And I recently discovered a particularly interesting letter sent to my paternal great grandmother, Mary Curme, from her Aunt, Sarah Pragnell (nee Curme) in 1912. The first line intrigued me as it referenced the fact that Sarah's son had been awarded a knighthood. Another letter, from the recipient of the knighthood, Sir George Pragnell, was addressed to Mary's husband, Henry (My paternal Great Grandfather). In this second letter Sir George writes that he has had over 2,000 congratulatory letters. He goes on to say that none were more welcome than those from 'my dear mothers side'. Eager to know more, I started by looking at Sarah Pragnell, my Great Grandmothers Aunt.
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| William and Sarah Pragnell's grave at St Mary Magdalene's Church, Sherborne |
It transpires that Sarah Curme was married to the head gardener at Sherborne Castle in Dorset. Indeed, William Pragnell (1837-1898) was a gardener at the Castle gardens for most of his working life. The spectacular garden, which is now a major tourist draw, surrounds the 'new' Sherborne Castle - a house which was built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 and which has been the home of the Digby family since 1617. The current owner, Maria Wingfield-Digby, has kindly confirmed that Bill and Sarah lived and worked on the estate from 1871 to 1891 and that during their tenure they lived in the Gardeners House, a property now incorporated into the Sherborne Castle Garden Centre which occupies the Castle's old walled garden.
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| The Gardeners House, Sherborne Castle & Gardens |
The couple had seven children, of whom George (born in 1863) was the second eldest. So, what propelled George Pragnell, the son of a gardener, to fame and fortune in London? The answer lies in a heady combination of business acumen, leadersip qualities and personal drive - all imbued with a high degree of patriotic fervour. Young George took his first apprenticeship at the age of 14 in a drapery shop in Exeter. From there he travelled to London where he joined one of Britain's greatest drapery businesses - Messrs Cook & Sons based in St Paul's Churchyard. His rise through the ranks was meteoric and in middle age he was given a partnership in the business and was appointed as Managing Director.
Sir George was a prominent London merchant and civic organiser whose influence reached well beyond his business career. At the turn of the century he was a leading figure in the National Patriotic Association and after the British Army Haldane reforms (1906-1912) he was instrumental in setting up the Employers' Territorial Association (ETA), a body that urged employers to provide job security for volunteer soldiers. On this latter point, the activities of the ETA took on a new impetus with the outbreak of war in in 1914. He was an active advocate of all types of sport and, in particular was President of the Amateur Swimming Association at the time of his passing in February 1916. Sir George received his knighthood in 1912 as recognition for his 'public service and leadership'. A report in the Western Chronicle date 21 June 1912 credits Sir George, as ETA president, with bringing in 15,000 new recruits.
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| Sir George Pragnell |
Upon his sudden death as a result of a heart attack at the age of 53 Queen Mary sent a message to Sir George's widow, Lady Leonora. 'The Queen fears that Sir George must have over-taxed his strength in his unremitting efforts to serve his country. Her Majesty feels that by his death the nation has lost one of its' most useful and patriotic citizens'. Sir George and Lady Leonora had two children and at the time of the funeral (which was a grand affair) George Pragnell Junior was a serving officer of the Royal West Kent Regiment and his sister Vera was active in the Red Cross, an institution that her father was very much involved with. Indeed, Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) nurses provided a contingent to lead the funeral procession to St Augustine's Church, Lee.
It is perhaps a blessing that Sir George died without hearing news of the death of his only son near Ypres on the 23rd July 1917. Like his father George (Junior) had shown an aptitude for leadership and at the time of his death he was Brigade Major in charge of the 123rd Brigade.
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| Brigadier General Gordon (Left) & Major George Pragnell (Right) |
George (Junior) had attended Dulwich College before training as an accountant. At the outbreak of the war he was serving as a Sergeant with the Honourable Artillery Company. His heartbroken mother sent a summary of George's war service to the headmaster at Dulwich in November 1921. He had secured a commission in the East Kent Regiment (the Buffs) in February 1915 and was elevated to the rank of Lieutenant with the Royal West Kents just a couple of months later. He spent much of that year as a recruiting officer, raising members of the 11th (Lewisham) Battalion in the Lewisham, Deptford and Catford Area. In 1916, now a Captain, George returned to France where he was placed on the staff of the 41st Division. He attained his final promotion in early 1917.
Captain (Brigade Major) George Frederick Pragnell was killed, along with his Divisional Commander Brigadier-General Charles Gordon by an enemy shell. The two were walking together close to the Comines Canal near Ypres at the time and they are buried side by side in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Reninghelst New Military Cemetery (Ref. National Archives WO95/2639).
And what of George's younger sister, Vera? Well the death of her father and brother was to have a profound effect on her. Vera's life took an unexpected turn and her fascinating story (informed by her autobiography and an associated article in 'History Today' magazine) will be covered in Part II.
