First World War Serjeant Major given CWGC headstone more than a century after his death

A special ceremony has taken place at Abney Park Cemetery for a First World War serjeant major who has been given a CWGC headstone more than 100 years after his death.

Company Serjeant Major Albert Ernest Pearce died on 14 November 1916 at the Central London Ophthalmic Hospital after an unsuccessful operation to remove a piece of shrapnel in his eye.

The ceremony on Friday last week (16 March) was attended by his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and representatives from the Bedfordshire Regiment.

Albert first enlisted as a soldier at the age of 17 in 1893, with the 1^st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment. After 12 years of service he moved to London where he married and had two children in 1911 and 1913, and worked for Joseph Travers & Sons Ltd, Wholesale Grocers of London.

At the outbreak of the First World War he volunteered, and although at the age of 40 was overage, as a former soldier was able to join the Special Reserve being posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment. In December 1915, he was severely injured when several rifle grenades were fired into his trench. In January 1916, Albert returned to England and was officially discharged in October 1916.

At the time, the Commission did not record men who died after discharge so Albert was never given a Commission headstone. However, thanks to researchers who looked into the names on the Travers company war memorial he was brought to the Commission’s attention, and has now been given a CWGC headstone with an inscription chosen by his family.