Name
Harry (Henry) Pearce
9 Feb 1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/12/1915
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
19814
Hampshire Regiment
10th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DOIRAN MEMORIAL
Greece
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial
Pre War
Harry (or Henry as he was baptised on 14 Apr 1895) was born on 9 Feb 1895 in Harpenden, the eldest son of Henry Pearce, a butcher, and his wife Ann Elizabeth (nee Giddings).
On the 1901 Census Harry was living at Wheathampstead Road, Harpenden with his Parents, George (born 1897), Alice (born 1899) and Frank (born 1910). His aunt Mildred Giddings, straw hat machinist, was also recorded. On the 1911 Census Harry was a butcher’s assistant (at his father' shop), still living at Wheathampstead Road, with his parents, George, a polisher, Alice, at school with additions to the family of Olive Lotte (born 1903), Jessie Mildred (born 1905), Arthur James (born 1908) and John William (born 1911).
Wartime Service
Henry enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 17987 (possibly late 1914 and probably with 3rd or 4th (Reserve) Battalions for initial Training). No Service Record could be found for Harry.
He went to the Balkans on 3 Oct 1915 having been transferred to the Hampshire Regiment as Private 19814 and joining the 10th (Service) Battalion. 10th (Irish) Division including the Hampshires Battalion were involved in the action at Kosturino on 7/8th Dec 1915. Henry was reported wounded and missing during the retreat in this action and, later presumed killed in action. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Doiran Memoral, Greece.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 10s and arrears of £7 18s 3d was paid to his father.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
