Richmond, NSW
6296
1st Battalion, 20th Reinforcement
Gilgandra Coo-ee
Returned to Australia 2.2.1919
Private Albert Warren Pearce 6296
Albert first enlisted in Gilgandra on October 9, 1915 and marched to Sydney with the Coo-ees but had a vision defect and was discharged at Liverpool Camp in November 1915. Despite his vision impairment, Albert was successful when he enlisted in April 1916 at Dubbo, with the 46th Battalion. He stated he had served 6 years with the RAA (Royal Australian Artillery). He was examined and passed by Capt Burkitt of Dubbo and described as 5’11’, dark compexion, grey eyes, mid brown hair and his vision test was 6/30, 6/6, which meant the vision in his right eye was bad and his left eye was good.
Albert trained at Liverpool with the 1st Battalion and embarked from Sydney on the Euripides on September 9, arriving in Plymouth, England on October 26, 1916.
Albert served at several camps and hospitals at Fovant, Larkhill, Durrington and Sutton Veny in England. In June 1917 he trained with the 17th Field Ambulance which was disbanded four months later when plans for a 6th Division were also abandonded. After attending the Australian Medical Corps Training Depot at Parkhouse, he was attached to the Group Hospital at Sutton Veny. He served in the Group Hospital at Sutton Veny, England until returning to Australia on the Karmala on February 2, 1919.
Little is known of Albert but according to the NSW BDM Register, he was one of eleven children of Isaac and Jane Pearce of Richmond NSW and had a twin sister, Alice J. There is no record of a marriage and electoral rolls show he lived at Brewarrina and Dubbo from 1930 to 1949. There is a death recorded of a 75 year old Albert W Pearce at Liverpool on June 8, 1953.
