Name
Walter Charles Pearce
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/11/1917
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
23634
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HITCHIN CEMETERY
South East Extension Grave 756
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial,
St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin,
British Schools Museum Memorial, Hitchin
Pre War
He was the son of Mr J. Pearce of 59, Old Park Road, Hitchin.
Wartime Service
He was in the 4th Battalion of the Regiment although his name does not appear in the ‘Soldiers died’ database. His Regimental Number was 23634 and he was recruited in November 1915.
On the 23rd April 1917 the 4th Bedfords attacked Gavrelle in the Arras sector. The Battalion went straight through the village gaining its objective and consolidating the northern outskirts. It was very heavily shelled during the day, was counter-attacked, but succeeded in driving the enemy off.
He was injured in the spine by a shell fragment near Arras on the 23rd April 1917. The fighting there was especially heavy on the 23rd and 24th April 1917. He was transferred to the King's Hospital in London but did not recover. The funeral service was in St. Mary's Church, Hitchin and the graveside ceremony was conducted with military honours and he was buried in Hitchin Cemetery in Grave SE 756.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
