Walter Frank Pearce
Private 19987
8th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment
Division 64
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Walter Frank Pearce and Ernest Albert Pearce are commemorated on a large family headstone. Their parents were the late William Edward and Phoebe Pearce of 22, Chesterman Street, Reading. The 1911 census indicates that Wlater, then 17, was working as a confectionary apprentice. Ernest was a grocers assistant. Other family members included William 29 and Charles 19 who were drapery porters; sisters Hilda 22 and Florence 14 no occupation is given for either sister.
Walter died of wounds at Cambrai as a prisoner of war on 21st September 1916, aged 22. He is buried at Porte de Paris Cemetery, Cambrai. Location I.B.7.
Ernest Albert Pearce
Private Royal Berkshire Regiment
Ernest was killed in action at St. Julien on August 16th 1917 aged 27. He was part of a Trench Mortar Battery. The allied forces had on that day attacked along a nine mile front north of the Ypres – Menin Road crossing the Steenbeek River. The ground was torn by the barrage and the low water table made No-Mans Land a morass. All the objectives were captured and the British reached Langemarck and half a mile beyond however, the Germans pressed the British back from the high ground won earlier in the day.
Charles Edward Pearce was also injured in the war.
Private 43978
7th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Charles service record indicates that he enlisted in February 1916 and was posted to the Royal Berkshire Regiment. However he was serving with the 7th Warwickshires when he wasinjured. He suffered from trench feet in the winter of 1916 and received gun shot wounds to his neck and chest on 5 December 1917. It is believed that he recoved from these injuries and was able to walk again. He signed his own medal receipt and it is believed that he survived the war.