Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Private F. Pearce, Royal Fusiliers, killed in action on 1 November 1916

1914-15 Star (1575 Pte., R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (SPTS-1575 Pte., R. Fus.); Memorial Plaque (Frederick Pearce), in card envelope of issue, extremely fine (3) £160-200

Frederick Pearce was born in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, and living in Cirencester, enlisted at Hornchurch. Serving with the 23rd (Sportsman’s) Battalion Royal Fusiliers, he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 16 November 1915. Serving with them he was killed in action on 1 November, aged 27 years. He was buried in the Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps.

In a newspaper cutting bearing his photograph it was reported, ‘As recorded in our obituary column a fortnight ago, Mr and Mrs F. Pearce, of 54 Ashcroft Road, Cirencester, have been acquainted by the Captain of the death of their son, Lance-Corporal Frederick Pearce, Royal Fusiliers, who was killed in action on November 1st. He was struck by a bomb and died soon afterwards. Lance-Corporal Pearce was in London at the outbreak of war and at once volunteered for service, but owing to the inability of the military to cope with the rush of recruits his services were not accepted till June, 1915, when he joined the Sportsmen’s Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. He had been in France for 13 months and had taken part in much of the heavy fighting since the commencement of the big offensive. Like his younger brother, Sergeant Ben Pearce, R.A.M.C., who was home on leave at the time of the sad occurance, Lance-Corporal Pearce was one of the original members of the 1st Cirencester Company Boys’ Brigade. [In referring to the award of the Military Medal to Sergeant B. Pearce recently, it was erroneously stated that he was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Pearce. He is, of course the fifth son.]’.

Sold with a commemorative poster and a folder containing a newspaper cutting, a letter of condolence from one of his comrades, 21 November 1916; a handwritten military message; copied m.i.c. and research and photographs of his grave stone and of the cemetery.

For a group to one of his brothers, see Lot 1481.