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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

W. F. Pearce


Scritch

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Hi,

I've been looking at the names on the St. Luke's war memorial in Derby, as we have a family connection with that particular area of Derby and my great uncle is named on it. The names are listed in regimental order, and also have their rank listed. Right at the bottom of the 5th and last column is someone who looks like they've been added as an afterthought.

No regiment is listed for him, and he is listed as Wireless Telegraphs Operator W. F. Pearce. Could any forum pals offer an insight into this chap? Would the rank Wireless Telegraphs Operator be used by the Army, or was it more likely that he was in the Royal or Merchant Navy?

I've not been able to find anyone who fits the bill on the CWGC.

Any help would be much appreciated

Many thanks

Richard

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Here a site with names from the memorial - http://derbyshirewarmemorials.wikispaces.com/Column+Five

It looks like its a memorial to those who died rather than just served.

I cant see him on the RN WW1 graves roll so I suspect he may have been in the merchant navy but he doesn't seem to be on the Merchant Navy war memorial - http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=859739

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There is a William Frederick Pearce on the WW2 Southsea Memorial,he was a Petty Officer on HMS Hood when it sunk on 24 May 1941.

The "afterthought" you mention may have been this in another conflict.

Sotonmate

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The chap who was killed on HMS Hood was Petty Officer P/J 109557 - 'Son of William and Alice Pearce; husband of Ivy Agatha Pearce, of Southsea, Hampshire'.

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Husband of.......who lived in Southsea...is where a sailor could move to in order to be near to Portsmouth Dockyard ! Son of.....could have been born/lived elsewhere before joining the Navy !

My post was to offer Scritch what was out there,he can determine relevance or not !

Sotonmate

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ss002d6252, thanks for the link to the St. Luke's Memorial on wikispaces, I already knew about that one as it's my website :D It's reassuring to know that other people besides myself know about the site though, as it's really hard to find on Google!

It is indeed a memorial to the fallen, and they are all from the First World War so unfortunately that rules out the Petty Officer on the Hood, but thanks for the suggestion, sotonmate.

My hunch is that he was in the Merchant Navy, as I've never heard of the rank in a Royal Navy context before.

Another thought I had was Wireless Telegraphy squadrons of the Royal Engineers, but I'm not certain of this.

Richard

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