Prentice, Edgar

Edgar (Ed) Francis Prentice (1921-1980) was born in New Plymouth on 31 March 1921. The eldest son of lorry driver Francis William Prentice (1897-1979) and Maggie Jean Prentice (nee Arnoldt) (1897-1983), he attended Fitzroy School and the family were very involved with the Knox Presbyterian Church in the same suburb. Ed’s younger brother Leslie even trained as a minister there.

As a boy, Ed won prizes for his fretwork, chickens and racing pigeons at several annual Winter Shows. He passed his accountancy exams and was working as a clerk at the tramways depot when the Second World War broke out, his name appearing on the ballot list in March 1941. He was sent to a military camp but at some point temporarily released on leave without pay, presumably because his office work was deemed essential with so many other men overseas, only to be recalled for service in March 1943.

Ed saw action as an Able Seaman with the Royal New Zealand Navy, returning to New Zealand aboard the HMS Atheling on Christmas Eve 1945 along with dozens of other sailors who had next-of-kin in Taranaki. He was later awarded the War Medal 1939-1945 and the New Zealand Service War Medal.

Ed married Valda Lawson (1927-2010) in 1948 and the couple had two children, Heather and David. He remained a lifelong resident of Fitzroy, being a keen member of the local bowling club and committed to the Knox Presbyterian Church parish.

Edgar Prentice died in New Plymouth on 22 September 1980 at the age of 59 and is buried at Awanui Cemetery.