The AIF Project

William John PEARCE

Regimental number10910
Place of birthHay, New South Wales
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationBootmaker
Address69 Rae Street, North Fitzroy, Victoria
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation32
Height5' 6.5"
Weight154 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs B. Pearce, 69 Rae Street, North Fitzroy, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil (previously rejected for service in A.I.F. due to varicose veins)
Enlistment date22 April 1916
Place of enlistmentAscot Vale, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name3rd Divisional Train, 22nd Company, Army Service Corps
AWM Embarkation Roll number25/16/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A34 Persic on 3 June 1916
Rank from Nominal RollDriver
Unit from Nominal Roll1st Division Supply Column
FateReturned to Australia 12 March 1918
Date of death2 August 1919
Age at death from cemetery records35
Place of burialFawkner Cemetery, Victoria
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
181
Discharge date22 June 1918
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 3 June 1916; disembarked Plymouth, 25 July 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 21 November 1916.

Found guilty, 6 April 1917, of when on active service, disobeying an lawful command given by his superior officer, in that he at 1545 hours, 5 April 1917, did not parade for stables after having been ordered twice by his superior officer to do so: award, admonished.

Attached to 7th Field Artillery Brigade, 15 April 1917; rejoined 867th Company, 3rd Australian Divisional Train, 3 May 1917.

Attached to Divisional Salvage Company, 19 June 1917; rejoined unit, 22 June 1917.

Admitted to No 9 Field Ambulance, 20 November 1917 (debility); rejoined unit, 5 December 1917.

Marched out to Base Depot; marched into Australian General Base Depot, Le Havre, 9 December 1917.

Classified as only fit for service in a Permanent Base, 15 December 1917.

Transferred to, and taken on strength of 1st Australian Division Supply Column, 15 December 1917.

Admitted to No 11 Australian Field Ambulance, 30 December 1917 (varicose veins); transferred to No 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 31 December 1917; to No 7 Canadian General Hospital, 2 January 1918; discharged to Base Depot, 4 January 1918.

Proceeded to England, 18 January 1918; marched into No 4 Command Depot, 19 January 1918.

Marched into No 2 Command Depot, 14 February 1918.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Kenilworth Castle', 12 March 1918; disembarked, Melbourne, ex-HT 'Field Marshal', 22 May 1918; discharged Melbourne (medically unfit: chronic bronchitis and varicose veins), 22 June 1918.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Died, No 11 Australian General Hospital, 2 August 1919 (pulmonary tuberculosis).
SourcesNAA: B2455, PEARCE William John

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