Prestland | Albert
Biography
Albert Prestland (Service No. 14262679) was killed in action on 18 October 1944 in the vicinity of Overloon. He was aged 21 and a Gunner in 10 Survey Regiment of the Royal Artillery. He was initially buried at the temporary cemetery near Bardoel on Oploseweg between Overloon and Oploo and re-interred on 27 May 1947 in Grave IV. B. 12. at the CWGC Cemetery in Overloon. His grave is inscribed “Rest in Peace”.
Family background
Albert Prestland (or Bert as he was known) was the son of Albert Edward Prestland and Evelyn May Wootten who had married in Thorley near Bishop’s Stortford in Hertfordshire in 1913. Albert (Snr) and Evelyn had both been born in 1890. Albert was one of eight children born in the St Albans and Watford area of Hertfordshire as follows: Winifred M 1913, Doris E 1915, David Edward (known as Edward) 17 September 1916, Ernest Charles (known as Charles) 1919, Percy E 11 November 1921, Albert 9 September 1923, Frederick 16 February 1925 and Evelyn B 1926.
In 1921, Albert and Evelyn (known as May) were living as lodgers at Genements Farm, Bedmond which is north of Watford in Hertfordshire. They were living in the household of Walter and Rose Draper and their son. Walter was a Ploughman for T W Pusey of Leavesden, Watford and Albert was working as a Labourer. With Albert and Evelyn were their first four children. By 1923 the family were living at 5 Cartpath, off Horeseshoe Lane, Garston which is in north east Watford. This is where they were still living in September 1939. By now, Albert was a Timber Feller. Still living with their parents were David, Percy, Bert and Frederick. David was working as a Paper Mills Filter Operator; Percy was working as a Bottler at Wells Brewer; Bert was a Baker’s Roundsman and Frederick was a Paper Carter at a Paper Printing and Stationery Manufacturers.
An article written after Bert’s death indicated that he, too, had worked at Wells Brewery but was working for the British American Optical Company on Sandown Road, Watford at the time he enlisted.
Sometime before he enlisted, he met and fell in love with Jean Mollie Milnes. She was born in Edmonton, Middlesex on 19 October 1924. By September 1939, she was living with her parents, Herbert S and Edith A Milnes, and 3 of her sisters at 9 Louvain Way, Horseshoe Lane, Watford, not far from where Bert lived. She was looking for her first job at the time. On her 18th birthday on 19 October 1942 she enlisted as a Land Worker in the Women’s Land Army.
Military career
Bert had enlisted in the General Service Corps on 20 August 1942. He stated that he was born on 9 September 1923 in the parish of Garston in Hertfordshire. He gave his address as 5 Cartpath, Garston, Watford, Herts. He named his father, Mr AE Prestland, of the same address as his next of kin. He was described as being 5ft 7 ½ in tall, weighed 134 lbs and had hazel eyes and brown hair. He was declared A1 medically fit. He gave his religion as Church of England. Prior to enlistment he had been an “Assistant Blocker”. This may have been a role in the Optical Company.
On enlistment, he was posted as a Private to No. 65 Primary Training Wing. On 30 September 1942 he was transferred to the 22nd Anti Tank Training Regiment of the Royal Artillery as a Gunner. On 19 December 1942 he was transferred to the 4th Reserve Anti Tank Regiment. Finally, on 12 January 1943 he was posted as a Gunner in 10 Survey Regiment of the Royal Artillery.
The 10th Survey regiment’s task was to locate the enemy using light flash spotters and acoustic equipment. This included dangerous reconnaissance missions using motorised vehicles such as motorbikes and jeeps.
Bert landed in France with his regiment on 13 June 1944.
Jean Milnes sent him a card for his 21st Birthday on 9 September 1944.
In the first week of October 1944, the 10th Survey Regiment moved into the Netherlands via Mechelen in Belgium and established itself in the vicinity of Haps. Several batteries were immediately built up and sound and light flash equipment was installed. Nine enemy locations were thus identified on 7 October 1944. On 8 October 1944, when the US 7th Armoured Division withdrew from the Battle of Overloon and the 3rd British Infantry Division took over, new camouflaged emplacements were installed in Ledeacker and Sint Anthonis. From Ledeacker, reconnaissances were made towards Oploo and Overloon.
On 18 October, as Venray was being liberated, Bert Prestland and Captain Edgar Aveling were riding in their jeep on one of their reconnaissance trips near Vredepeel (near today’s De Peel airbase-red). Suddenly, they hit a German mine there, injuring Captain Aveling. Bert Prestland was killed in this incident at the age of only 21. Although his Service Record indicates he was a Gunner, the War Diary which records his death refers to him as a Lance Bombardier.
He had served for a total of 2 years and 61 days of which 128 days were in North West Europe. He was awarded medals as follows: 1939/45 Star, France & Germany Star, War Medal 1939/45.
His death was recorded as follows in a local newspaper which again refers to him as a Lance Bombardier:
“Killed by Enemy Mine – News has been received by Mr and Mrs A Prestland of 5 Church-path, Garston that their 21 years old son L/Bdr Albert (Bert) Prestland lost his life while serving in Holland. It is understood that his vehicle was blown up by an enemy mine. Before he was called into the RA about two years ago L/Bdr Prestland was employed by the B.A.O. Co. Ltd., Sandown Road, Watford. He was also on the staff of Wells’s, Watford Brewery for a time.”
On 23 October 1944, Lieutenant K.P. Christy wrote the following letter to Mr and Mrs Prestland:
“Although I do not wish to trespass on what must be your great grief at the news of the death of your son, my brother officers Capt. Edgar Aveling, Capt A.E. Minshull, Lt. C.A. Farey and the Non-commissioned officers and men of his troop have asked me to write to you and to tell you what manner of man we found your son to be, and how much we regret his loss. He was a great chap. Every officer and man of this unit liked him, and his high spirits and cheerfulness under trying conditions were a great help in maintaining the morale of the troop. We found him reliable and extremely thorough in his work. He took much pride in his vehicle, the good state of which was important for in it he drove the Troop Commander. It was certainly the best in the unit. Again although so young he showed great promise, was not afraid to speak his mind and showed definite signs of a strong personality and power of command.
But what really matters is that we were very fond of him. He was such a good fellow, and most sincerely we join with you in mourning your greater loss.
From my own knowledge of him I am sure that he thoroughly enjoyed much of his life on active service up to the time of his death. When we were in Belgium he made many friends among the liberated people.
That liberation was a real thing, and men like him, between them have brought happiness back into the lives of millions of people, who although foreigners, are very much like ourselves.
He had at least the opportunity of seeing the results of his work and were it not for the grief it must have caused you both, and others dear to him, I believe I can say he would not have begrudged his sacrifice.
He died while driving Capt. Edgar Aveling on reconnaissance in the Venray Area, of which you will have heard. They were driving in his Jeep, when it hit a concealed mine. He must have died instantaneously and can have suffered no pain. He was buried alongside one of his comrades on the battlefield and the men of this unit have erected a cross over him. The service, which we all attended was conducted by an Army Chaplain, who spoke a few words, which conveyed to us all, the value of what he had done. You would have found nothing omitted.
It is not possible for us to give you much comfort in the case of such a loss but we do want you to realise how fine a chap we found him, and how much we regret he is no longer with us. We were in a position to know, and we thought him a good fellow.”
Aftermath
Bert’s father died in 1968 and his mother in 1989, both in Watford.
His girlfriend, Jean Milnes (later known as Jan), went on to marry George Leslie Mills in 1976 in Lambeth, London.
In 2014, Jean visited Bert’s grave in Overloon. After her death in 2016, the photos below were found in her possessions.
