PEARCE, Roy Frank
NAME PEARCE Roy Frank
RANK Private 115074
I Canadian Corps - 1st Canadian Infantry Division - 2nd Infantry Brigade REGIMENT Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.
Royal Canadian Infantry Corp.
Born March 2, 1918 - Stratford - County of Perth - Ontario
Died February 23, 1945 26 years 10 months
Cemetery Ravenna War Cemetery - Piagiquana – Ravenna - Italy
VI F 8
Wife Mrs. Bernice Pearce - Stratford
Father Mr. Charles Pearce - Stratford Brother Mr. Jack Pearce serving with Canadian Army Overseas Sisters Mrs. Doris Baggeth - Stratford - Ontario Mrs. Doreen Murch - London - Ontario
Roy was born in Stratford on March 2, 1918 and was raised Anglican and attended St. James Anglican Church. His employment before he enlisted was in farming and with Canadian National Railway.
Canada
He enrolled under the National Resources Mobilization Act into the Non Permanent Active Militia on October 10, 1942 in London into the Perth Regiment and shortly after was granted Agricultural Leave from October 22-December 15. On January 8, 1943 he was posted to No. 12 Basic Training Centre in Chatham. Three months later in March he went to A29 Canadian Infantry Training Centre at Camp Ipperwash. During the first week of April he went to Sussex, New Brunswick to the Victoria Rifles. During the first half of June he was granted furlough and while on furlough he was married in Stratford. On August 8th while still in New Brunswick he qualified as a Driver of wheeled vehicles Class III. In the middle of September he was posted to Niagara on the Lake in Ontario. In the middle of January 1944 he travelled to Stratford and did not return to Niagara until February 18. He received furlough from May 25-June 9 and then in the middle of June he was transferred to General Service following his enlistment into the Canadian Army.
Oversea
On November Private Pearce was Taken off Service of Canadian Army Canada and embarked from Halifax and the following day he was Taken on Service with the Canadian Army Overseas. On the 28th his disembarked in the United Kingdom and a day later reported to No. 3 Canadian Infantry Training Centre. Private Pearce was there training until January 23, 1945 when he was Struck off Strength of the Canadian Army UK and then embarked from the UK. The following day he Was Taken on Strength with the Canadian Army in the Mediterranean Theatre and on February 7, 1945 disembarked in Italy.
In the field
One week later he was Taken on Service with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Nine days later he would lose his life on the field of battle. In mid - January of 1945 the Princess Pat’s remained in Ortona, and then moved out once more to a position
on the northern outskirts. The winter had halted the British 8th Army’s advance and there followed six
weeks of patrolling. During this period the weather was foul, with much wet snow and very cold winds. The
Germans were always alert and they were very aggressive and ingenious in their use of mines and booby
traps. Patrols were usually cold and wet but never at all dull. The Princess Pat’s were engaged in a static war along the Senio River, always patrolling and always raiding and it was said that had it not been for the lousy weather they would have enjoyed the task at hand. During this period there were many successes and one notable disaster.
On February 23rd which was bright and sunny, two platoons of “C” Company raided a group of buildings
on the Fosso Vecchio on the west side of the road near Casa Guerra after a very heavy artillery concentration. The Germans had fled and as the Patricia’s entered the first of the buildings, a delayed charge brought the entire building down upon them. As others from the platoon ran to assist, the German then brought down an extremely devastating mortar barrage. The Scout and Sniper platoons did a good job of eliminating an enemy sniper who had caused them trouble for quite some time. Then in the afternoon “A” Company was shelled by German 105mm guns. The Ghurkas were on the left flank and they had attacked the Germans who were now nervous and they began to rake the whole area with machine gun fire.
Private Pearce received a wound that would prove to be a fatal wound in the left upper abdomen from an explosive shell from the enemy sniper. He received attention at the Field Ambulance at 6:15 pm and was in shock when given morphine. He was then moved the No. 5 Casualty Clearing Station and when admitted there his shock was severs and his breathing was feeble. His large intestine and spleen were removed and he was given 1,000 cc of plasma. Private Pearce then became unconscious and died from his wounds at 7:45 pm. This particular action cost the Pat’s 37 men and this is when we believe Private Pearce lost his life. He was originally buried at Bugnacavallo which was 10 miles west of Ravenna.
Roy's wife Bernice and his father Charles received the Memorial Cross in April of 1945. His wife received the medals awarded to him in February of 1950 which included the 1939-45 Star, the Italy Star, the War Medal along with the Canadian Volunteer Service Medals with clasp.
He is honoured and remembered on the Stratford Cenotaph and on the Memorial Plaque of St James Anglican Church in Stratford. It is possible he is honoured and remembered on the Memorial Plaque of Stratford High School. He is honoured and remembered on the Virtual Canadian War Memorial.
