Shields Gazette 21/01/2013
Shields Gazette Thursday 17/08/1915
He was in the 40th Brigade, 256th Siege Battery RGA which was operating 6 8" Howitzers.
His Christian names were James Harry.
The photo shown here from the Shields Gazette 21/01/2013 was supplied by his grandson, Bill Marshall.
Gunner Pearce was accidentally killed by a collapsed dugout. A Court of Enquiry was held to investigate the incident.
His wife received a letter of sympathy from the Major of her husband's battalion :- "It is with very great regret I have to write to you to tell you that your husband, Gunner Pearce, met with a serious accident yesterday morning, the 19th. He was sleeping in a dugout, and during the night this fell in on him, and it gives me great pain to inform you, most unfortunately suffocated your husband. When he was reported as missing in the morning, he was dug out as quickly as willing hands could accomplish it, but, although artificial respiration was immediately applied, it was only too clear he had passed away."
If it is any comfort to you, he must have expired in his sleep, and been perfectly unconscious of what was happening. I fully believe had he been awake he could have struggled free. He was buried the same day in a little village cemetery close to here, which will be a very peaceful spot when the war ends. You will be informed of its whereabouts officially, as we are not allowed to tell you. Anything I can do towards sending you a keepsake, I will gladly do, and with all sympathy and condolence."
Source : Shields Gazette Thursday 02/08/1917.
He had 3 children. After he was killed, his widow, Mrs Mary Ann Pearce, was awarded a pension of 26s 3d a week. They resided at No 7 Waterloo Vale, South Shields.
Acknowledgments to Janis Blower of Shields Gazette.
He is remembered at South Shields on the memorial in Waterloo Vale S86.021 where his initials are incorrectly shown as J.E. Pearce.
