Hugo Pratt origin, his maternal grandfather was of Marrano (Jewish) descent, and his grandmother was of Turkish origin. He was also related to actor Boris Karloff (né William Henry Pratt). In 1937, Pratt moved with his mother to Abyssinia (Ethiopia), joining his father who was working there following the conquest of that country by Benito Mussolini's Italy. Pratt's father, a professional Italian soldier, was captured in 1941 by British troops and in late 1942, died from disease as a prisoner of war. The same year, Hugo Pratt and his mother were interned in a prison camp at Dirédaoua, where he would buy
William Dymock Pratt William Dymock Pratt William Dymock Pratt (22 December 1854 - 12 August 1916) was an architect based in Nottingham. He was born in Sneinton on 22 December 1854, the son of Nathan Pratt of Gedling Lodge in Nottinghamshire. He was articled to W.H. Martin, and then with Adams and Kelly in Leeds. From 1877 to 1884 he was in partnership with James Edwin Truman as Truman and Pratt, at Cauldon-chambers, Long Row, Nottingham. From 1884 he practised alone in Nottingham On 4 September 1884 he married Lillian Edith Cropper, eldest daughter of Alderman Cropper, of Nottingham. They had two daughters,