Cecil McKendry Pearce

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sat, 18/02/2017 - 17:32

First Name:

Cecil

Middle Name:

McKendry

Last Name:

Pearce

Date of Birth:

Tuesday, August 23, 1898

Mother's Name:

Rose Pearce

Father's Name:

Alfred Pearce

Date Enlisted:

Monday, October 23, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

Machine Gun Battalion

Company:

5th

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Details:

Cecil Pearce (Service No 2711) was born in Neville, near Bathurst NSW.

Cecil enlisted in Wollongong, NSW stating his age as 21 (he was in fact 18 years of age). He was single, worked as a blacksmith and was living at Thirroul, NSW. Cecil had served in 37th Militia.

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A24 Benalla with 37th Battalion, 5th Reinforcements on 9th November 1916. The troops arrived in England on 9th January 1917 but Cecil did not get to France until 12th October 1917, when he joined 5th Machine Gun Battalion.

Cecil saw service on the Western Front until he was returned to Australia in July 1919. He was discharged from the AIF on 10th October 1919.

In 1952 he was living at Lakemba in Sydney and working for the NSW State railways.

Cecil died in 1956.

Cecil's service is commemorated at the Thirroul-Woodward Memorial Park.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, PEARCE CECIL