The AIF Project

Wilfred Ernest PEARCE

Regimental number2010
Place of birthJunee, New South Wales
SchoolPublic School, New South Wales
ReligionMethodist
OccupationFarmer
AddressCoots Street, Cowra, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation28
Next of kinMrs Mary Jane Pearce, Coots Street, Cowra, New South Wales
Enlistment date15 January 1915
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name3rd Battalion, 5th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/20/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A55 Kyarra on 13 April 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll3rd Battalion
FateKilled in Action 7 August 1915
Miscellaneous details (Nominal Roll)*date of fate 7th to 12th
Place of death or woundingLone Pine, Gallipoli
Date of death8 August 1915
Age at death29.6
Age at death from cemetery records29
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 20), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
37
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Charles John and Mary Jane PEARCE, Yass Street, Young, New South Wales. Native of Junee
Family/military connectionsOne brother killed in action, four cousins killed, one uncle served as Lieutenant and then Captain also several other cousins served through the war.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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