aconnolly Posted 6 February Share Posted 6 February Hi Pals I found a reference to W.W. Pearce in the NZ Archives - a letter from his mother enquring about his military pay. She referred to him as serving in German East Africa in 1916 as part of an "ANZAC Company". To my knowledge no such company served in this campaign. She gave an NZEF number but this does not relate to her son nor does a second number (41631 or 4/1631) nor does 4/631 fit. No soldier by this name (or similar) seems to have served in NZEF (or AIF). Based on Birth records (whereby only one Pearce W W with a mother Jane of an age to serve in ww1 is identified) and newspaper reports of his mother plus an on-line family tree I am confident this refers to William Wenham Pearce was born 8 July 1885 in NZ to Henry John and Jane Pearce (nee Wenham). He died in Johannesburg 16 October 1973. He does not appear in a database of New Zealanders known to have served with other forces in WW1 so if he did for instance serve with a British or Sth African unit then he can be added to that database. My question is can anyone shed light on which unit he did serve with? Thanks in advance Andrew W W Pearce.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddell Posted 6 February Share Posted 6 February Andrew, This could lead down a rabbit hole, however, there is mention of a company of Australians and New Zealanders serving in 7th SA Infantry battalion about halfway down this old thread, About halway down the page- Quote from forum member ATM- I don't know if it has been covered here already, didn't see it when I browsed through, but 7th SA Infantry, part of 2nd SA Infantry Brigade in GEA had its D Company composed almost entirely from Australians and New Zealanders resident in SA. Mainly from the Transvaal. The balance of the company was made up of convicts on parole. Just mentioning it as it refers to a company of Australians and New Zealanders, Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aconnolly Posted 6 February Author Share Posted 6 February Thanks Scott - appreciate the info I'll explore that - makes sense he was likely in Sth Africa and signed up there. Just odd his mother had quoted an NZEF number Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tawhiri Posted 6 February Share Posted 6 February He was certainly in South Africa by 1920, when he married Mary Cathleen Artz on 9 November 1920 in Johnannesburg. It also appears that they made a trip back to New Zealand in 1956 according to the New Zealand passenger lists on FamilySearch. Another brother, Frank, was also in Johannesburg, and died there on 4 March 1945. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPWX-98BH https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19450306.2.2.4 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7DWR-WKZM https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGJ3-NLX3 It's not clear when either brother travelled to South Africa, a search of the New Zealand passenger lists brings up at least one possibility for William in 1915, not seeing anything obvious for Frank though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aconnolly Posted 7 February Author Share Posted 7 February Thanks Tawhiri I can't find as yet an "exit" from NZ but I think it is increasingly likely that if he did serve it was with the SA forces. Really appreciate the help Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaureenE Posted 7 February Share Posted 7 February You could try contacting the National Archives of South Africa to see if they have a military record. The email (current in February 2023 ) is archives@dac.gov.za Maureen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tawhiri Posted 7 February Share Posted 7 February (edited) Brother Francis married in Benoni, Transvaal, South Africa on 12 August 1919 according to this announcement in the Auckland Star two months later. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19191018.2.93 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68SS-83K7 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6Z2G-WRH4 Given the date of mother Jane's letter, one suspects that one or both of them were in South Africa by 1915. Unfortunately there is no smoking gun in the New Zealand passenger lists, although there are a number of possibilities based on their ages and likely departure port, listed only as Pearce in most cases. Taking a slightly different tack and assuming that they initially crossed the Tasman Sea to Australia and took a ship from there to South Africa, I have found a W W Pearce and F W Pearce, aged 29 and 22 respectively, travelling from Melbourne, Victoria to Cape Town, South Africa on the Demosthenes on 12 January 1915. Certainly not conclusive, but too much of a coincidence given their initials, ages, and final destination. I'd definitely be leaning towards the fact that these are the two brothers, even though the passenger list claims they are both married. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL9S-LQB8 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL9S-LQBX Edited to add that working around that departure date from Melbourne, I have now found what I think is their departure from Auckland on 5 January 1915, with a W Pearce and F W Pearce travelling together on the Riverina bound for Sydney. W Pearce's age is correct, F W Pearce's age is not, it's transcribed as 31, but if the 3 was a 2 then he would be the right age. Too much of a coincidence, however, for it not to be the brothers, given their apparent departure for South Africa from Melbourne seven days later. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDV-DZYC https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDV-DZYH Further edited to add a newspaper clipping from the Auckland Star of 5 January 1915, which confirms the departure of the Riverina bound for Sydney on this date, with two passengers named Pearce. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19150105.2.37 Edited 7 February by Tawhiri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aconnolly Posted 7 February Author Share Posted 7 February Thanks both. I'll go via the Sth African defence force archives. I too think the Riverina is likely them. I'l update if Sth Africa able to confirm service details. Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveE Posted 9 April Share Posted 9 April (edited) On 06/02/2024 at 00:51, aconnolly said: He does not appear in a database of New Zealanders known to have served with other forces in WW1 so if he did for instance serve with a British or Sth African unit then he can be added to that database. My question is can anyone shed light on which unit he did serve with? Andrew Dr Anne Samson, coordinator of the GWAA, has been able to supply confirmation that William Wenham Pearce born Auckland, New Zealand, did indeed serve with the South African Forces. His record shows that 30 year old William Wenham Pearce attested at Potchefstroom on 08/12/1915 and served as #4163 with ‘D’ Company, 7th Regiment South African Infantry. Taken on strength of that unit on 09/12/1915 he embarked 22/01/1916 aboard s.s. “Professor Woerman” for East Africa. He served overseas until 29/11/1916 when he disembarked at Durban ex. H.M.S. Arcadian. He was discharged Medically Unfit at Potchefstroom on 17/04/1917. Next of Kin on attestation was given as his mother, Jane Pearce, Allison Ave., Devenport, Auckland, New Zealand. Regards Steve Edited 10 April by SteveE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenbecker Posted 10 April Share Posted 10 April Mate, I have numbers of soldiers who stayed there after the Boer War. Later served in the Natal rebellion 1906 and in SWA in 1914 with SA Forces. Some then returned home the relist with the AIF just a few names for interest; DeLATOUR Edgar Frederick 82 Sgt 03 LHR A Sqn (G) reported shot on Popes Post buried Shrapnel Valley Cemetery Gallipoli (Boer War NZEF no record found?) AKA De Lautour seven brothers enlisted Arthur KIA NZEF and Charles 2nd Rhodesia Regt KIA German East Africa GIBSON John 3295 Pte 9 LHR 27R to isol camp 6-17 to 3 LHTR 7-17 to Div Trns Trg depot 7-17 tos Dvr 35Co AASC Aust MDT 8-17 to hosp (gastro) 7-18 rtn 9-18 to 38Co AASC 11-18 to hosp (debility - malaria) 11-18 RTA invalided MU debility (Boer War Rand Light Infantry to Sth African MMP and Matabele War and German East Africa 1914) KEEBLE John Walter 57412 A/Sgt 4 GSR Vic to CTD (04 LHR) 11-18 tos 04 LHR 2-19 (Boer War 1 VMR (32) & Sgt 5 VMR (910) to SSM DCM & MID - for capturing Boers single handed at Rhenoster Kop May 1901) enlist South African Forces 25-12-15 4th Sth Africian Horse & SASC MT disch 29-1-17 served German East Africa 1915 -1917 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aconnolly Posted 10 April Author Share Posted 10 April Steve E -Thank you so much. This is fantastic. Greatly appreciated. Steven B - Very interesting - thank you. Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyC Posted 10 April Share Posted 10 April (edited) 8 hours ago, SteveE said: Professor Woerman The Professor Woermann of the German Woermann-Line was seized by the British cruiser Carnavon in August of 1914 while in service as troop carrier and resold to Hugo Stinnes, a German shipping line in 1921 and first renamed Edmund Wagenknecht and later General San Martin. Interesting that she is still listed under her German name in British Service. German sources list her as British troop carrier Professor (without Woermann). GreyC Edited 10 April by GreyC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddell Posted 11 April Share Posted 11 April On 10/04/2024 at 09:14, SteveE said: Andrew Dr Anne Samson, coordinator of the GWAA, has been able to supply confirmation that William Wenham Pearce born Auckland, New Zealand, did indeed serve with the South African Forces. His record shows that 30 year old William Wenham Pearce attested at Potchefstroom on 08/12/1915 and served as #4163 with ‘D’ Company, 7th Regiment South African Infantry. Taken on strength of that unit on 09/12/1915 he embarked 22/01/1916 aboard s.s. “Professor Woerman” for East Africa. He served overseas until 29/11/1916 when he disembarked at Durban ex. H.M.S. Arcadian. He was discharged Medically Unfit at Potchefstroom on 17/04/1917. Next of Kin on attestation was given as his mother, Jane Pearce, Allison Ave., Devenport, Auckland, New Zealand. Regards Steve Steve, She didn't have details of any other Australians in that 'D' Company by chance? They would make a good research project. Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveE Posted 11 April Share Posted 11 April 41 minutes ago, Waddell said: Steve, She didn't have details of any other Australians in that 'D' Company by chance? They would make a good research project. Scott Scott I suspect not… Anne was kind enough to take time out of a recent trip to SA to access the archive and specifically locate Pearce’s record for me. I would doubt she went hunting for more ‘Anzacs’ on the off chance as she had her own research to undertake. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenbecker Posted 11 April Share Posted 11 April Yes also no one shown who served with the 7th SA Infantry during the war, only other units, mostly Mounted, older Cavalryman don't like to walk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddell Posted 11 April Share Posted 11 April (edited) 5 hours ago, SteveE said: Scott I suspect not… Anne was kind enough to take time out of a recent trip to SA to access the archive and specifically locate Pearce’s record for me. I would doubt she went hunting for more ‘Anzacs’ on the off chance as she had her own research to undertake. Steve Thanks for replying Steve. I know its a bit cheeky bu I had to ask. Edited 11 April by Waddell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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