Name
Ernest Pearce
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/08/1918
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
48010
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL
Panel 4 and 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
St Albans Citizens Memorial, Town Hall (old) Memorial, St Albans, Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Harpenden Town Memorial, Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Harpenden
Pre War
Ernest was born in 1882 in Harpenden to William Pearce, a bricklayer, and Anna Maria (nee Winch). They were living at Cravells Road, Harpenden. His parents had married on 26 June 1858 at St Giles, Codicote, Herts.
Anna died in 1883 in the Royston District, aged 45. Ernest’s father, William, remarried on 6 December 1886 at St Nicholas, Harpenden, Herts, to Eliza Pearce. On the 1891 Census, aged 10 Ernest lived in Harpenden, with his father, step-mother and four siblings.
On the 1901 Census, employed as a hat stiffener aged 19, he still lived in Harpenden, with his father, step-mother and one sibling. On the 1911 Census, a straw hat stiffener, aged 29, he still lived in Harpenden, with his father, step-mother and one sibling.
Ernest married in 1913 to Lizzie R Hull.and they had a son Leonard Arthur, born in 1914. His last address was given at 17, Lower Paxton Road, St Albans.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in 1917 in St Alban’s, Herts, for Royal Field Artillery as Private 149948.
At a later date He was transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 48010 and served with 1st Battalion in France and Italy and was with them on their return to take part in the 1918 Battle of Albert in a successful attack near Bucquoy when Ernest was among 43 Other Ranks killed that day. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Vis–en-Artois Memorial.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £4 and arrears of £11 9s 21d paid to his widow. Ernest is possibly the Pte PEARCE E Bedfordshire Regiment recorded in the Borough Roll of Honour.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Gareth Hughes
