Name
John Pearce (1)*1
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
59779
Labour Corps
100th
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Pirton School Memorial
Biography
A John Pearce appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that, as a boy, the man who served he attended the school. Parish and census records suggest two entries that could be the man that served. However, the information provided by Ron Burton confirms that one man who served was Arthur Pearce’s brother served and therefore this John was who was born on June 9th 1890 and who was the son of Charles and Naomi Pearce (née Hare) definitely served. In all it would appear that two brothers served and survived – refer to Arthur Pearce for more family details.
The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records him as serving in the Training Reserve Battalion.
The identity of John is confirmed by the 1918 Absent Voters’ List, which identifies this John Pearce as Private 59779, 100th Labour Corps and gives his address as the same as his brother Arthur’s, Handscombe's Cottages, Burge End, (the row of terraced cottages now at the start of Shillington Road). Ron died in 2009, but always kept the shell fuse (pictured here), which was brought back as a souvenir of the war by John, in a prominent position.
*1 This is a different person to Francis John Pearce (known as Jack) as he is recorded separately on the School War Memorial.
Additional Information
Text from the book ‘The Pride of Pirton’ by Jonty Wild, Tony French & Chris Ryan used with author's permission
Acknowledgments
Text from the book ‘The Pride of Pirton’ by Jonty Wild, Tony French & Chris Ryan used with author's permission
