James Andrew PEARCE

PEARCE, James Andrew

Service Number: 27195
Enlisted: 23 July 1940
Last Rank: Sergeant
Last Unit: No. 10 Squadron (RAF)
Born: Kadina, South Australia, 29 August 1917
Home Town: Adelaide, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Storeman (O.J. Nielsen)
Died: Flying Battle, Atlantic Ocean, 17 May 1943, aged 25 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Runnymede (Air Forces) Memorial, Surrey, England, Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England, United Kingdom
Memorials: Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Runnymede Air Forces Memorial
Show Relationships

World War 2 Service

23 Jul 1940: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 27195, Adelaide, South Australia
23 Jul 1940: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 27195
17 May 1943: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 27195, No. 10 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45
Date unknown: Involvement

Help us honour James Andrew Pearce's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Julianne Ryan

Rootsweb ID: I619040 Birth Record: 29 Aug 1917 in Kadina, South Australia

Father Clarence Samuel Pearce and Mother Elizabeth Ann Pearce, living at Kadina, SA.

20/7/1940 married:  Marjorie Ina Pearce, living at 7 Rozelle Avenue, Colonel Light Gardens, SA.
16/5/1942  son:       Kevin Andrew Pearce was born
                              Kevin was only 18 mths old when James died.
                              Not long after James was confirmed dead, Kevin tragically died.
(later remarried - Mrs M I Helliar).

Prior to enlisting James worked as an Electrical and Radio Mechanic for O.J. Nilsen.
Held an SA School of Mines Certificate for Electrical Wiring and Machine Management.

Described on enlisting as 22yrs 10mths old; married; 5' 9" tall; 150 lbs;
medium complexion; brown eyes; brown hair; Church of England.

23/7/1940      enlisted in Adelaide, SA

16/12/1940 -
15/4/1941      RAAF - Signals School, Point Cook - Course 29

12/1/1942      became a Air Gunner and promoted to Sergeant

1/4/1942        promoted to Corporal

24/8/1942      embarked on Sydney, NSW for the UK
18/11/1942    disembarked into UK

Sergeant  in  RAAF 10 Squadron

17/5/1943      killed in flying battle over Atlantic Ocean
                     No known grave

Commemorated on Panel 197 at the Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Surrey, UK.

Commemorated on Panel 100 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.

Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  6/6/2016.  Lest we forget.

Read more...