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Private John Pearce
Description
TitlePrivate John PearceSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionJohn was born at Brookside on 25 June 1894, son of James and Ellen Jane Pearce. Before enlisting he was working as a farm labourer for his mother at Brookside. He had previous military experience with the 13th Regiment. He was 5ft 5in tall with a medium complexion, blue eyes brown hair.
John enlisted on 4 April 1916 and was assigned to 15th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company. He embarked on 26th July 1916 from Wellington arriving in Devonport on 3 October 1916 and marched into Sling Camp on same day. He left for France almost a month later on 20 October and marched into Base Depot at Etaples on 21st. From there he joined the 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment in the field on 8 November. He was “sent to hospital” on 26th January 1917 by the Field Ambulance suffering with influenza but was well enough to re-join his battalion on 9th February. He fought with them through the battles of 1917 including Messines but was he was wounded on 12 October in the disastrous attack at Passchendaele. He suffered a gunshot wound to his face and his right leg as well as a fractured femur. It was a through and through wound but his case was complicated as he had a case of trench feet as well. He was taken up by the No. 1 Field Ambulance and admitted to the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 13th then taken on to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne on 14th. On 16th October he was placed on the “seriously ill” list where he remained until 4th November. He was evacuated to England on board the hospital ship SS Cambria on 7 February 1918 where he was admitted to 4th London General Hospital at Denmark hill on 8th February. This hospital had a neurological section established in early 1915 and acted as clearing hospital for these cases. He remained there until 5th March when he was transferred to the No 1 General Hospital at Brockenhurst. On 26th March he was assessed by a Medical Board and classified as unfit for service and to be sent back to New Zealand. He embarked for New Zealand on board the Marama from Avonmouth on 6th April 1918. On 18th May he was admitted to the Chalmers Military hospital in Christchurch suffering from severe cellulitis as a result of the gunshot wound to his left leg. This hospital had been set up in the Chalmers Ward of Christchurch Hospital in October of 1918 to act as an Orthopaedic hospital for returned soldiers. He contracted influenza and it was felt that his resistance was so lowered by the infection that his death was attributed to his war service. He had been one of the wounded soldiers brought out to the Ellesmere Show and at that time he was very hopeful and expected to be well on the road to recovery in the near future. Sadly he died of influenza and pneumonia at Chalmers Military Hospital , Christchurch on 20th November 1918, aged 24. He was buried in Brookside Anglican Churchyard, the Rev. P. Jones, of Leeston, conducting the burial service. John is remembered on the Irwell Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial.
First NameJohnLast NamePearceFamilySingleSon of James and Ellen Jane PearceDate of Birth25 June 1894Place of BirthBrooksideDate of Death20 November 1918Place of DeathChristchurchCause of DeathInfluenzaAge at Death24
John enlisted on 4 April 1916 and was assigned to 15th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company. He embarked on 26th July 1916 from Wellington arriving in Devonport on 3 October 1916 and marched into Sling Camp on same day. He left for France almost a month later on 20 October and marched into Base Depot at Etaples on 21st. From there he joined the 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment in the field on 8 November. He was “sent to hospital” on 26th January 1917 by the Field Ambulance suffering with influenza but was well enough to re-join his battalion on 9th February. He fought with them through the battles of 1917 including Messines but was he was wounded on 12 October in the disastrous attack at Passchendaele. He suffered a gunshot wound to his face and his right leg as well as a fractured femur. It was a through and through wound but his case was complicated as he had a case of trench feet as well. He was taken up by the No. 1 Field Ambulance and admitted to the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 13th then taken on to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne on 14th. On 16th October he was placed on the “seriously ill” list where he remained until 4th November. He was evacuated to England on board the hospital ship SS Cambria on 7 February 1918 where he was admitted to 4th London General Hospital at Denmark hill on 8th February. This hospital had a neurological section established in early 1915 and acted as clearing hospital for these cases. He remained there until 5th March when he was transferred to the No 1 General Hospital at Brockenhurst. On 26th March he was assessed by a Medical Board and classified as unfit for service and to be sent back to New Zealand. He embarked for New Zealand on board the Marama from Avonmouth on 6th April 1918. On 18th May he was admitted to the Chalmers Military hospital in Christchurch suffering from severe cellulitis as a result of the gunshot wound to his left leg. This hospital had been set up in the Chalmers Ward of Christchurch Hospital in October of 1918 to act as an Orthopaedic hospital for returned soldiers. He contracted influenza and it was felt that his resistance was so lowered by the infection that his death was attributed to his war service. He had been one of the wounded soldiers brought out to the Ellesmere Show and at that time he was very hopeful and expected to be well on the road to recovery in the near future. Sadly he died of influenza and pneumonia at Chalmers Military Hospital , Christchurch on 20th November 1918, aged 24. He was buried in Brookside Anglican Churchyard, the Rev. P. Jones, of Leeston, conducting the burial service. John is remembered on the Irwell Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial.
First NameJohnLast NamePearceFamilySingleSon of James and Ellen Jane PearceDate of Birth25 June 1894Place of BirthBrooksideDate of Death20 November 1918Place of DeathChristchurchCause of DeathInfluenzaAge at Death24
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageLeeston and Ellesmere County War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryBrookside Anglican ChurchyardRegiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry BattalionEnlistment Details4th April 1916Service Number15599Embarkation26th July 1916 Place of EmbarkationWellington Reinforcement15th Reinforcements
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Private John Pearce. Selwyn Stories, accessed 08/12/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/250
