The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1428) Private Oliver George Pearce, 33rd Battalion, AIF, First World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Joanne Smedley, the story for this day was on (1428) Private Oliver George Pearce, 33rd Battalion, AIF, First World War.

1428 Private Oliver George Pearce, 33rd Battalion, AIF
KIA 13 October 1917
Photograph: P06805.001

Story delivered 31 July 2015

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Oliver George Pearce.

Oliver Pearce was born on 29 June 1896 to Charles and Mary Pearce. His father had been born in Cardiff, Wales, and had come to Australia at the age of 19, settling near Quorn in South Australia. Charles and Mary’s five sons and five daughters were all born in South Australia. Oliver attended the Wyarra School in South Australia, and went on to work on his father’s farm.

In 1912 the Pearce family moved to Narrandera, New South Wales, to settle on a property called “Pine Vale” in Gobbagaula. His father, who was a progressive farmer and believed in following the most up-to-date methods, had moved to New South Wales in search of better land. By this time Oliver was a “very experienced and very capable farmer”.

Oliver enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 16 May 1916. He underwent nearly five months of training in Australia before being sent to England, where he was posted to the 33rd Battalion. He joined his unit in France almost a year after enlisting.

Oliver was described by one of his mates as “a fine fellow, and one who was out to do his bit”. He was known to be an upright man who used his will power to avoid, as his mate put it, “the many temptations which one experiences in this soldier’s life”. Throughout his training he was always keen to get to the front and engage the enemy, and even after experiencing the horrors of war he preferred to be in the front lines in support of his mates.

On 13 October 1917 the 33rd Battalion was in the front line near the Belgian town of Ypres. That day, as the battalion withdrew to support lines, Private Pearce was wounded in the chest and head. He was still able to walk, and so his fellow soldiers in the front line dressed his wounds and he began walking back to the regimental aid post for treatment. As did so, a stray shell landed just five yards away. Pearce was killed instantly.

His company commander wrote to his parents of the young soldier’s death:
I deeply deplore the loss of such a splendid young man and such an excellent soldier. Your late son won a high reputation by his manly and honourable bearing, his good work, and his keen sense of duty. In action he was both cool and courageous … It is very sad and hard for us to lose such fine lads as your son, but it is very much harder for you and your people.

Pearce’s friend Private Gay wrote: “We all know our own mothers’ hearts would be well-nigh broken by such news as you have received. Therefore it is to the mothers of these fallen heroes that our heartfelt sympathy flows out today.” Mary Pearce’s son was 21 years old. His body was lost in the confusion of fighting, and he has no known grave.

Oliver Pearce’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 Australians who died during the First World War. His photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Oliver George Pearce, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section

Sources:
www.ancestry.com.

Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour circular.

“Obituary: Mr Chas. F. Pearce, Sen.”, Narandera Argus & Riverina Advertiser, 5 February 1929, p. 2.

“The late Private O. Pearce”, Narandera Argus & Riverina Advertiser, 15 February 1918, p. 4.

“How Private O. Pearce died”, Narandera Argus & Riverina Advertiser, 11 January 1918, p. 4.