Commissioner William Pratt, former territorial commander of the Canada and Bermuda Territory, was promoted to Glory from a nursing home at Westbourne on Wednesday, 13 July 2011.

Born in England to Salvation Army corps officer parents, Will Pratt was the youngest of four children, all of whom became Salvation Army officers.

Service aboard two Royal Navy destroyers and at a naval station in Egypt preceded Will Pratt's entry from the Ilford Corps into The Salvation Army's International Training College in London in 1946, following the conclusion of the war. A year later he was appointed as cadet-sergeant, specialising in young people's training and, at his commissioning as a lieutenant in 1948, took charge of the Sheerness Corps, located in an English naval shipyard town. He married the then Lieutenant Kathleen Lyons on 12 November 1949.

Sixteen years of editorial work followed, including an appointment as assistant editor of the 'War Cry' at International Headquarters, and then as editor of 'The Musician'. This long period of editorial experience afforded him an opportunity of undertaking a twelve-week reporting assignment in the Far East, accompanying General Wilfred Kitching. Commissioner Pratt recorded his impressions from that tour in a missionary review entitled 'Tell them in the East'. Furthermore, his basic documentation led to the production of three Salvation Army films: 'Blood of the Martyr, 'Angel with a Bushy Beard' and 'Miracle of Medicine Hill'.

Three months before The Salvation Army's international centennial celebrations in London, the then Major Pratt was appointed as Director of Information Services at International Headquarters. For seven years he was the Army's official spokesman in London, collaborating in the production of numerous TV, film and radio documentaries about The Salvation Army. In May 1975 Commissioner Pratt was appointed Secretary for Public Relations.

For sixteen of the years which he spent on International Headquarters, the commissioner was a member of the International Staff Band, where his pleasing platform manner and abilities as a speaker were highly valued.

In 1978 he became Chief Secretary, USA Western Territory, returning there as Territorial Commander after a brief term as Chief Secretary in the British Territory. He was appointed as Territorial Commander, Canada and Bermuda Territory in 1984, and retired from active service on 31 May 1990.

We thank God for the life of Commissioner William Pratt, and for the impact of his ministry in the name of Christ. Please join in prayer for commissioner's family – Mrs Commissioner Kathleen Pratt, and for their son and daughter, Graham and Avril – may they know the presence of the Lord with them in these days.