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PEARCE, Wilfred John

PEARCE, Wilfred John

Male 1899 - 1976  (76 years)

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  • Name PEARCE, Wilfred John  
    Birth 5 Jun 1899  Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Christening 16 Jul 1899  Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Residence 1901  Hooke, Dorset, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Hooke Police Station (where father was Police Constable) 
    Residence 1911  Bishop's Caundle, Dorset, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Now "Little Thatch"
    537 Bishops Caundle
    SHERBORNE
    DT9 5ND 
    Occupation 15 Nov 1916  Poole, Dorset, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gardener 
    Occupation 16 Nov 1916 
    Enlisted into British Army aged 17yrs and 5 months 
    Address 22 Aug 1918  Meaulte, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    THE HUNDRED DAYS OFFENSIVE, AUGUST-NOVEMBER 1918
    THE HUNDRED DAYS OFFENSIVE, AUGUST-NOVEMBER 1918© IWM (Q 7301)
    Battle of Amiens. Mark V (Female) tanks of the 4th Battalion, Tank Corps, passing through Meaulte on the day of its capture by the 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment (12th Division), 22 August 1918.
    From Forces War Records:
    Second Battles Of The Somme - Battle Of Albert - 22/08/1918
    Location: Meaulte. Decisive Allied victory. In holding the German Spring Offensive, the Allies and particularly the B.E.F. took increased confidence in their ability to turn the tide of war in their favour.

    Replacement troops, including newly-arrived Americans, and new equipment helped to rebuild after the losses earlier in the year and it was decided by the Allied command to go on the offensive. Third Army, still under the command of General Byng were to take and hold the alignment of the Arras to Albert railway.

    Infantry were trained to work in co-operation with the armoured regiments (the new Whippet and Mk V tanks were much improved compared to their predecessors) and to coordinate with the RAF when air cover was needed. On 22nd August, Fourth Army, to the south of Third Army also recommenced its advance to support Third Army.

    When the advance began 12th (Eastern) Division in III Corps, on the left flank of Third Army, were holding a position east of Morlancourt. Their objective on 22nd August was to advance east across the Morlancourt Ridge, south of Albert, 36th Infantry Brigade on the left and 35th Infantry Brigade on the right.

    On the far left, 5th Royal Berkshire Regiment captured and cleared Meaulte with tank support. Following the capture of Meaulte the Division continued its advance across the old Somme battlefield, capturing Mametz and reaching Carnoy by 25th August.

    Clearing Carnoy the Division continued east, clearing Bois Faviere (Faviere Wood) and capturing Hardecourt-aux-Bois before it was relieved on 29th August, an advance of 12 miles (18km). 
    Address 22/Aug/1918  Meaulte, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    THE HUNDRED DAYS OFFENSIVE, AUGUST-NOVEMBER 1918
    THE HUNDRED DAYS OFFENSIVE, AUGUST-NOVEMBER 1918© IWM (Q 6987)
    Battle of Albert. Ruins of Meaulte taken by the 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment (12th Division), on 22 August 1918 (23 August). The pontoons were left behind by the British in March. 
    Address 22/AUG/1918  Meaulte, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    THE HUNDRED DAYS OFFENSIVE, AUGUST-NOVEMBER 1918
    THE HUNDRED DAYS OFFENSIVE, AUGUST-NOVEMBER 1918© IWM (Q 7302)
    British tanks in Meaulte on same day as Wilfred Pearce was gassed there 
    Residence 23 Aug 1918  Near Rouen, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gassed by German troops and taken to the 55th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps. Suffered from chronic bronchitis since then https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/soldiers/a-soldiers-life-1914-1918/the-evacuation-chain-for-wounded-and-sick-soldiers/field-ambulances-in-the-first-world-war/ http://www.1914-1918.net/18div.htm
     
    Occupation 14 Mar 1919  Dublin Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Re-enlisted in British Army 
    Residence 29 Jul 1919  Londonderry, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Residence 18 Jan 1920  Delhi, India Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Clerk at Army HQ India 
    Occupation 1921 
    Discharged from British Army 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment 
    Occupation 26 Sep 1925 
    Bailiff 
    Residence 26 Sep 1925  Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Residence 1939  1 White Horse Drive, Poole, Dorset, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    1939 register TNA 
    Occupation Sep 1939  [1
    Builders Labourer 
    Death 25 Mar 1976  Poole General Hospital, Poole, Dorset, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Cause: 1a Bronchopneumonia 1b Chronic Bronchitis & Emphysema 
    Notes 
    • Joined ? Staffordshire Regiment
      Later Devon and Dorsets
      Gassed during WW1
      Served in Ireland and India
      Private
      Poole Hospital Heating Engineer
      Death informed by Eva Pearce on 26/3/1976
    • Military service As reported by Dorset Military Museum Dorchester. - Private 5719267 Wilfred John Pearce, 2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment.

      Wilfred Pearce enlisted into the training reserve Battalion on 16th November 1916 at the age of 17, consequently he was transferred to the Army Reserve and began training in July 1917 following his 18th birthday.

      He was trained as a soldier with the Somerset Light Infantry and his number was 40596. Upon completion of his training, he remained in the U.K. Eventually he embarked for France and at the infantry based depot, Wilfred was reassigned to the 5th Battalion of the Royal Berkshire regiment with the number of 48579.

      He was wounded by a gas shell on the 22nd August 1918 and returned to England, and upon recovering transferred to the 3rd Battalion in Sutton Coldfield.

      Wilfred was discharged from the army on the 18th of March 1919, he was probably serving in Ireland at the time of his discharge as he enlisted into the Dorset regiment in Dublin on the following day and was given the number of 5719267. He went to Londonderry and undertook training with the 3rd (training) Battalion of the Dorset regiment until he was drafted to the 2nd Dorset?s.

      The 2nd Battalion was reconstructed following World War 1. The cadre that remained in June 1919 consisted of one officer and ten men. They left Port Said in Egypt on the 10th of June reaching Dover on the 3rd of July and immediately preceded to Portland.

      On the 26 of September 1919 with 796 other men and 26 officers Wilfred entrained to Liverpool and embarked on the Anchor line ship ?Castella? for Bombay arriving on the 19th October. The Battalion entrained for Bangalore. ?B? Company detached to Madras and ?C? Company to Cannanore & Calicut, 40 men being taken to serve as clerks at various headquarters, and a dozen sent to Peshawar as motor drivers. 32 more sent for more active service in East Persia.

      Ceremonial parades were frequent including an inspection in 1919 by the viceroy, Lord Chelmsford who had originally served in India in 1914 as a captain in the 1/4th Dorset?s.

      146 NCO?s and men including Wilfred Pearce went home time expired at the end of 1920, the Battalion would have been much depleted had not the 1st Battalion at Londonderry begun to provide substantial drafts. Wilfred was discharged after 2 years? service upon termination of his period of engagement. His rank was Private and his character was ?Very Good?. Details of his service and antecedants are recorded in ?Enlistment Book 2? at the Keep Museum.

      The 2nd Battalion had not quite completed 2 years in India when called into active service. Serious disturbances had again broken out among the Moplahs of Malabar. One of the chief leaders of the revolt was Kuniahmed Hajji who had originally been captured by the 1st Battalion of the Dorset's in 1994 but released on account of his age, 16 years. The 2nd Battalion caught and shot him before it left Malabar.

      In 1922 after heavy fighting the 2nd Battalion left India and redeployed to the Sudan in Africa.

      Wilfred Pearce was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal (below) in respect of his service in France with the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He did not receive a medal for his subsequent service in India, as he left the army prior to the fighting that took place.
    Person ID I0009  Pearce
    Last Modified 20 Apr 2022 

    Father PEARCE, Robert John,   b. 02 Dec 1866, St James, Poole, Dorset ,England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. last quarter 1940 (Age 73 years) 
    Mother WHITE, Rose Elizabeth,   b. Jun 1871, Charminster, Dorset, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Marriage 14 May 1895  Holy Trinity Parish Church, Dorchester, Dorset, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F004  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family READ, Eva Kate,   b. 13 Mar 1902, Deptford, London, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Jun 1984, Poole General Hospital, Poole, Dorset, England Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 82 years) 
    Marriage 26 Sep 1925  St Marys Church, Longfleet, Poole, Dorset, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. PEARCE, David George,   b. 24 May 1933, Poole, Dorset, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Sep 2003, Bournemouth Hospital, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years)
     2. PEARCE, John Frederick,   b. 7 Mar 1927, Poole, Dorset, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 29 Jan 2013, Forest Hill House Nursing Home, Rushall Lane, Corfe Mullen, Wimborne, Dorset, England Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 85 years)
    Family ID F003  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 5 Jun 1899 - Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChristening - 16 Jul 1899 - Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Hooke Police Station (where father was Police Constable) - 1901 - Hooke, Dorset, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Now "Little Thatch" 537 Bishops Caundle SHERBORNE DT9 5ND - 1911 - Bishop's Caundle, Dorset, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Gardener - 15 Nov 1916 - Poole, Dorset, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsAddress - THE HUNDRED DAYS OFFENSIVE, AUGUST-NOVEMBER 1918 THE HUNDRED DAYS OFFENSIVE, AUGUST-NOVEMBER 1918© IWM (Q 7301) Battle of Amiens. Mark V (Female) tanks of the 4th Battalion, Tank Corps, passing through Meaulte on the day of its capture by the 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment (12th Division), 22 August 1918. From Forces War Records: Second Battles Of The Somme - Battle Of Albert - 22/08/1918 Location: Meaulte. Decisive Allied victory. In holding the German Spring Offensive, the Allies and particularly the B.E.F. took increased confidence in their ability to turn the tide of war in their favour. Replacement troops, including newly-arrived Americans, and new equipment helped to rebuild after the losses earlier in the year and it was decided by the Allied command to go on the offensive. Third Army, still under the command of General Byng were to take and hold the alignment of the Arras to Albert railway. Infantry were trained to work in co-operation with the armoured regiments (the new Whippet and Mk V tanks were much improved compared to their predecessors) and to coordinate with the RAF when air cover was needed. On 22nd August, Fourth Army, to the south of Third Army also recommenced its advance to support Third Army. When the advance began 12th (Eastern) Division in III Corps, on the left flank of Third Army, were holding a position east of Morlancourt. Their objective on 22nd August was to advance east across the Morlancourt Ridge, south of Albert, 36th Infantry Brigade on the left and 35th Infantry Brigade on the right. On the far left, 5th Royal Berkshire Regiment captured and cleared Meaulte with tank support. Following the capture of Meaulte the Division continued its advance across the old Somme battlefield, capturing Mametz and reaching Carnoy by 25th August. Clearing Carnoy the Division continued east, clearing Bois Faviere (Faviere Wood) and capturing Hardecourt-aux-Bois before it was relieved on 29th August, an advance of 12 miles (18km). - 22 Aug 1918 - Meaulte, France Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsAddress - THE HUNDRED DAYS OFFENSIVE, AUGUST-NOVEMBER 1918 THE HUNDRED DAYS OFFENSIVE, AUGUST-NOVEMBER 1918© IWM (Q 6987) Battle of Albert. Ruins of Meaulte taken by the 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment (12th Division), on 22 August 1918 (23 August). The pontoons were left behind by the British in March. - 22/Aug/1918 - Meaulte, France Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsAddress - THE HUNDRED DAYS OFFENSIVE, AUGUST-NOVEMBER 1918 THE HUNDRED DAYS OFFENSIVE, AUGUST-NOVEMBER 1918© IWM (Q 7302) British tanks in Meaulte on same day as Wilfred Pearce was gassed there - 22/AUG/1918 - Meaulte, France Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Gassed by German troops and taken to the 55th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps. Suffered from chronic bronchitis since then https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/soldiers/a-soldiers-life-1914-1918/the-evacuation-chain-for-wounded-and-sick-soldiers/field-ambulances-in-the-first-world-war/ http://www.1914-1918.net/18div.htm - 23 Aug 1918 - Near Rouen, France Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Re-enlisted in British Army - 14 Mar 1919 - Dublin Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 29 Jul 1919 - Londonderry, Ireland Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Clerk at Army HQ India - 18 Jan 1920 - Delhi, India Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 26 Sep 1925 - Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 26 Sep 1925 - St Marys Church, Longfleet, Poole, Dorset, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1939 register TNA - 1939 - 1 White Horse Drive, Poole, Dorset, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - Cause: 1a Bronchopneumonia 1b Chronic Bronchitis & Emphysema - 25 Mar 1976 - Poole General Hospital, Poole, Dorset, England Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Photos
    Pearces and Reads
    Pearces and Reads
    Eva and Wilfs Silver wedding anniversary
    Wilfred Pearce in uniform
    Wilfred Pearce in uniform
    Wilfred Pearce in uniform standing
    Wilfred Pearce in uniform standing
    Wilfred Pearce in uniform sitting
    Wilfred Pearce in uniform sitting
    Wilfred Pearce
    Wilfred Pearce
    Wilfred Pearce at Bishops Caundle 1972
    Wilfred Pearce at Bishops Caundle 1972
    1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen
    1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen
    The band of the 20th Battalion performing near the Administrative Offices, and the main entrance to the 1st Australian General Hospital (1AGH). This band was attached to the 1AGH to entertain the patients and also visited other hospitals for the same purpose. Note the flagstaff carrying the Red Cross flag and Australian flag upon the hospital crossbar. The 1AGH notice board with the electric light to switch on at night when convoys were expected.
    The tent wards at the 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen
    The tent wards at the 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen

    Documents
    Wilfred Pearce Birth certificate
    Wilfred Pearce Birth certificate
    Wilfred Pearce death certificate
    Wilfred Pearce death certificate
    Wilfred Pearce army career 1
    Wilfred Pearce army career 1
    Wilfred Pearce army discharge papers 1921
    Wilfred Pearce army discharge papers 1921
    Wilfred Pearce army career 2
    Wilfred Pearce army career 2
    Wilfred Pearce army career 3
    Wilfred Pearce army career 3
    Wilfred Pearce Medal Roll WW1
    Wilfred Pearce Medal Roll WW1
    Wilfred Pearce Telephone 1984
    Wilfred Pearce Telephone 1984
    Marriage Certificate of Wilfred Pearce and Kate Read
    Marriage Certificate of Wilfred Pearce and Kate Read
    Robert John Pearce Census 1911
    Robert John Pearce Census 1911
    Robert John Pearce census 1901
    Robert John Pearce census 1901
    Note place of residence Police Station
    Marriage of Francis Clissold and Kathleen Pearce 1946
    Marriage of Francis Clissold and Kathleen Pearce 1946
    Witnessed by Wilfred John Pearce (and an A Pearce ? Archibald)
    Family entry Census 1911 Bishop's Caundle
    Family entry Census 1911 Bishop's Caundle
    Baptism Wifred John Pearce
    Baptism Wifred John Pearce
    Wilfred Pearce And family 1939
    Wilfred Pearce And family 1939
    Robert John Pearce and family census 1921
    Robert John Pearce and family census 1921
    Wilfred Pearce marriage 1925
    Wilfred Pearce marriage 1925
    Wilfred Pearce War Diary
    Wilfred Pearce War Diary

  • Sources 
    1. [S5] 1939 Register, (Find My Past).