Pearce, James Thomas: Service no. 157658

Family Search: Private James Thomas Pearce was born on 4 February 1889, in Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom. He had at least 1 daughter with Amy Bendall. He immigrated to Canada in 1913 and lived in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada in 1915. He registered for military service in 1915. In 1915, at the age of 26, his occupation is listed as fireman in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada. He died on 21 September 1916, in Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France, at the age of 27, and was buried in Bois Guillaume Communal Cemetery, Bois-Guillaume, Seine-Maritime, France.

Note that there is a Perry, Walter: Service no. 157659. They probably joined together and were friends. Sometimes concurrent regimental numbers indicated such a relationship.

PTE. J.T. PEARCE DIED OF WOUNDS

Pte. J.T. Pearce, who was recently reported to have died of wounds enlisted for overseas service about a year ago. After receiving his preparatory military training in Toronto during the winter he was sent overseas in April with the 81st Battalion. He was later drafted to another unit and set to France in July. According to the casualty lists his relatives live at 10 Fuller avenue.

Source: Toronto Star. November 3 1916.

Soldier: Private James Thomas Pearce, reg. no. 157658

Status of Digital Service Record: Not available as of July 8, 2016.

Biography

Private J.T. Pearce joined the 81^st Battalion at Toronto, Ontario, on September 17, 1915. He was subsequently transported to England and then to the Continent, where he joined the 18^th Battalion. He was 26 years and 6 months old when he attested in Toronto and was married to Amy Pearce. They lived at 10 Fuller Avenue in Toronto.

A Toronto Star news item dated November 3, 1916 states: “Pte. J.T. Pearce, who was recently reported to have died of wounds, enlisted for overseas service about a year ago. After receiving his preparatory military training in Toronto during the winter, he was sent overseas in April with the 81st Battalion. He was later drafted into another unit and sent to France in July. According to the casualty lists, his relatives live at 10 Fuller Avenue.”

He is buried in the Bois Guillaume Communal Cemetery, Seine-et-Marne, France, at grave reference I.C. 9A. The inscription on his headstone reads: Gone But Not Forgotten and was commissioned by his wife, Mrs. Amy Pearce, residing at R.R. 1, Islington, Ontario, Canada.

The cemetery information tells that a portion of the burials in this cemetery are from those soldiers who died of wounds at the No. 8 General Hospital, which was housed in a large private house and grounds. The cemetery is north-east of the Rouen city center. The hospital is far from the location of the battalion during September 1916 and this indicates that Private Pearce’s wounds were serious enough for hospital treatment. Perhaps so serious that he could not be moved to England.

Significant Dates

Event	Date
Enlisted	09/17/15
Embarked to England	04/28/16
Arrived England	Unknown
T.O.S. 18^th Battalion	Unknown
Death	09/21/1916 – “Died of Wounds.” (Gun shot wounds, Left Hand and Leg.) At No. 8 General Hospital, Rouen.

Summary of Attestation Papers.

	James Thomas Pearce
Service No.	157658
Unit	81^st Bn. then transferred to the 18^th
D.O.B.	February 4, 1889.
Born	Kensington, London, England
Address at Enlistment
Name of Next of Kin	Mrs. Amy Pearce of 10 Fuller Avenue, Toronto, Ontario
Relation	Wife
Trade	Fireman[i]
Marital Status	Yes
Military Experience	No
Apparent Age	26 years, 6 months
Height	5’10”
Chest Measurement	37.5”
Chest Expansion	2.5”
Complexion	Dark
Eyes	Grey
Hair	Black
Distinctive Marks	Mole under right shoulder at back. Scar above left buttock.
Religious Denom.	Church of England
Sight	NA
Hearing	NA
Attested	Toronto, Ontario
Date	September 17, 1915.
Remarks