PIERCE, Roy Elgin

NAME                  PIERCE            Roy Elgin
RANK                  Gunner              31312                                                                                                                                                 1st Canadian Army - 3rd Canadian Infantry Division                                                                REGIMENT         4th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment                                                                                                                                  100th Light Anti Aircraft Battery
                            “everywhere”
                            Royal Canadian Artillery                                                                                                          Born                    December 20, 1914 - Brussels - Townships of Grey and Morris - County of Huron        Residence           Brussels                                                                                                                                  Died                    June 15, 1944          29 years   6 months
Cemetery            Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery - Reviers - Calvados - France.
                            V D 7
Parents               Mr. Thomas and Minnie Pierce - Brussels                                                                          Brothers              George was living in Hamilton - Ontario                                                                                                                     Stuart was living in Davison - Saskatchewan                                                                                                             John was serving with the RCAF"                                                                                          Sisters                Mrs. Sadie McDonald - Crowmarty - Ontario                                                                                                                Annie and Lettie Pierce - Hamilton - Ontario

Roy was born on December 20, 1914 in Brussels. From July 1940 until March 1941 he was with the Militia and attached to the 99th Battery of the Royal Canadian Artillery. After receiving his education he worked as a farmer.

Canada                                                                                                                                                                       

Roy enlisted into the Canadian Army in Guelph on April 4, 1941. At that time he stood 5' 6" tall and he weighed 134 pounds. He had a clear complexion with blue eyes and brown hair. He was given the rank of Gunner and Taken on Strength with the 100th Light Anti Aircraft Battery. On June 8 he was posted to the Regimental Headquarters of the 4th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment. In the middle of June he was On Command and proceeded to the point of embarkation in Nova Scotia. 

Overseas

On June 17 Gunner Pierce was Struck off Service to the Canadian Army in Canada and he embarked from Canada for overseas. The following day at sea he was Taken on Strength with the Canadian Army overseas. On July 2 in Gourock - Scotland he disembarked and the following day was Taken on Strength with No. 2 Royal Canadian Artillery Holding Unit. A week later on July 10 he was on course to the 225 Anti-Aircraft Troop Regiment. On August 26 Gunner Pierce was Taken on Service with the 4th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment and attached to the 100th Battery. At the end of October on the 28th he was admitted to No. 1 Canadian General Hospital and Taken on Service with No. 3 Artillery Holding Unit. On November 11th he was discharged from hospital and on the 15th Taken on Service with the 4th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment.      1942 and 1943 plus the first half of 1944 were spent training in the United Kingdom. On March 10, 1942 Gunner Pierce qualified as a Despatch Rider Class III and then on December 9, 1943 he qualified as a driver Class I of wheeled vehicles.

In the Field

The 4th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment embarked from the United Kingdom on June 11,1944 and they came ashore on Juneau Beach on June 12.                                                                                                                                On June 15th Gunner Pierce was very seriously injured while riding a motorcycle and carrying dispatches. There was another soldier riding behind him on the bike and they were involved with a second motorcycle. The accident took place at 8 pm on the evening of June 15th. Gunner Pierce was wearing a crash helmet and there was no improper conduct on his part. He was in shock when taken to at #14 Field Ambulance. Upon arriving there he was given 2 units of plasma. His injuries were compound fractures of his right tibia and forearm. He was then moved to No. 32 Casualty Clearing Station. Gunner Pierce died while at the Casualty Clearing Station on June 16 which was a clear and very hot day.
The regiment was near Cainet in France. Very early on the 16th there was heavy Anti-aircraft fire and air activity up until 4 am. All guns were in action as 100 Battery engaged 18 enemy aircraft with one aircraft destroyed. No. 69 Battery was also engaged and they also destroyed one aircraft.                                                                Gunner Pierce was originally buried in the cemetery at Revieres - France.

In the month of September 1944 Mrs. Pierce received the Memorial Cross and in November of 1949 the family received the medals awarded to Roy which included the 1939-45 Star, the France Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp.

Roy is honoured and remembered on Brussels Cenotaph and on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.