Pearce W H

Hi, new to website and trying to find any information on my second cousin William who was killed in action in 1945.
I would be greatly interested in any information of his movements from D-Day up until his death.

Many thanks

Mike Pearce

PEARCE, William Harry
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Rank:
Marine
Unit/Base:
45RM Commando
Regiment/Corps:
Royal Marines
Service:
Royal Navy
Service number:
PLY/X112318
Died :
Friday, April 6, 1945
Killed in action or died of wounds
Age:
24
Cemetery/Memorial:
Hanover War Cemetery
Roll of Honour:
45RM Cdo. Roll of Honour
Marine William Pearce died during the period his Commando were engaged in operations at Stolzenau and Leese (River Wesser crossing).

Hello Mike

From your post I can see you found our ROH entry for your second cousin Marine William Pearce http://www.commandoveterans.org/WilliamPearce45RMCommando

Marine Pearce died on 6th April 1945. 45 Royal Marine Commando returned from France to England on the 8th September 1944 where many of their wounded Officers and men rejoined them from hospital along with 80 new reinforcements from the Holding Commando. So to answer to your question with a question - Do you know for sure that he served in 45 Royal Marine Commando at the time of D Day, or did he join them as part of the reinforcements ?

Do your extended Family have a photo of your second cousin ?

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 04/06/2019 17:41:27

Hi,
Pete

Thanks for you quick reply.

It?s annoying that all the websites want money for service record information that should be free to family members, that being said I have found where his grave is and plot numbers but find it very difficult to find information on his movements through the war but to answer your question I am unable to tell you when he joined as my parents, who are in there 80s, cant recall much about him.
I will keep looking.

I have found a picture of him.

Cheers

Mike Pearce

Hi Mike

Thanks for the photo which I will add to our ROH entry. The only place you can get a full copy of his Service Record is from the MOD via their Disclosure Sections. However there is a cost of £30. Here is some more information for research on service records. http://www.commandoveterans.org/ServiceRecords.

If you email me below I will send you a history of 45RM Commando kindly provided to me by one of our many followers on here. However without the service record you will not know exactly when he joined 45RM Commando. Even with it sometimes details are sketchy but definitely worth doing if you can.

Thanks Pete

The history of 45RM commando would be greatly appreciated.
My email is [email protected]

If I find more info on William I will add it to the forum.

Many thanks for your help.

Mike Pearce

Sent. Photo added here. Gallery will be updated later.

http://www.commandoveterans.org/WilliamPearce45RMCommando

I will have a look in my records for any clues and post on here.

Hi Craig

Just for info, Mike's father has provided some additional details which I have now added to the entry we have for Marine Pearce.

http://www.commandoveterans.org/WilliamPearce45RMCommando

Found another piece of information that gives William?s DOB.
I have also found out he lied about his age to join up.
I now believe he joined in 1944 and was one of the troop reinforcements in the September of that year.
I still don?t know which troop he was in.

The info given on his CWGC form says he was 24 when he died which for some reason is wrong.

William?s head stone

Western Daily Press - Saturday 21 April 1945

Hi Mike

I have added the headstone photo and the image of Marine Pearce to our gallery. They are in different locations but you will see they are linked.

http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/Royal+Marine+Commando+Units/45+RM+Commando/wH-Pearce-45RM-Cdo.jpg.html

William's family had reports published in the Western Daily Press - Saturday 21 April 1945 where they clearly state he was 18½ years old. Here is what is shown there. If you can get a copy of his birth certificate the CWGC will amend their records.

Thanks Pete for adding all the information to your site it will give others a good understanding of what happens to the soldiers and families through these troubled times..