Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Wiseman PIERCE

Regimental number : 261

Place of birth: Bendigo Victoria

Religion: Church of England

Occupation: Carpenter

Address: Sebastian, Victoria

Age at embarkation: 29

Next of kin : Father, J W Pierce, Sebastian, Victoria

Enlistment date: 11 January 1915

Rank on enlistment: Private

Unit name: 21st Battalion, A Company

Embarkation details: Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on 10 May 1915

Rank from Nominal Roll: Private

Unit from Nominal Roll:  6th Infantry Brigade Headquarters

Fate: Returned to Australia 13 April 1919

Plaque in Victorian Garden of Remembrance

Date of death: 18 April 1974

Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918)  Sat 30 Jun 1917  Page 4 

A WAR ROMANCE.

Bendigo Soldier Married.

TO CANADIAN NURSE.

At present staying with her relatives at Sebastian is a petite Canadian Red Cross nurse—Mrs. Jack W. Pierce, junr.—whose

presence in this district is due to an interesting little war romance. Over two years ago Mrs. Pierce left her '"little grey home in the

west." which was located at Los Angeles, California, in the United States of America, and since then she has had many varied and

interesting experiences. Speaking with a marked Canadian accent., she converses freely regarding her travels, and says she has no desire to cross the "pond," as she prefers to style the ocean separating her from her native land, at any rate while submarines arc at large. An experience which Mrs. Pierce had on her voyage to Australia fully justifies her adopting this attitude of apprehension for the German "women - killers.''

Speaking to an 'Advertiser' representative a day or two ago. Mrs. Pierce said : — "I was born in Toronto, Ontario. Canada. my father being Dr. Howard Charles Trevelyan. I resided in Los Angelos, California, where my father owned a ranch. and was educated at the Toronto University. After the outbreak of war I left 'Varsity for Egypt with my father who is now a colonel in the Canadian Army Medical Corps. and offered my services as a V.A.D. Red Cross sister. Being accepted, I left for England. and called at France 'en route. The French people were very good to me. and I enjoyed my stay in that country very much. Amongst the places I visited were Paris, Masselies. Calais and swinoiW small villages. where I saw a good deal of the splendid work which the French people 'at home' are doing to assist their gallant armies and those of the Allies in sesuring victory. It was in September 1915. that I landed at Liverpool. England. After a few weeks' stay in London. I commenced nursing at the Portsmouth Military Hospital."

 Here Mrs. Pierce brietfy referred to the romance which led to her marriage. ''When in Egypt some time prior to my going to England." she continued, "I met Private .J. W. Pierce. By a strange coincidcnce, I met him again in hospital at Epsom, England, and on the 25th December, 1915, we were married at St. Phillip's Church, Westminster, London.

''On 14th February—my 22nd birthday—I sailed from Plymouth for Australia. 'Fortunately we were escorted by a destroyer, for when a week out from England—somewhere in the channel—we were chased by a submarine. Our destroyer escort shelled the enemy craft and sank it; and its crew. Our voyage occupied seven weeks, but as i did not suffer from malde-mer, the trip was more than pleasant. On

arrival at Melbourne I made the acquaintance of several of my new relatives, including Mrs.J. W. Pierce, senr.. of .Sebastian (my rnother

in law}, also my uncle, aunt, and cousin. Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Howard, and Miss Alma Howard, of M'lvor,'' (Union-street. Northone, and others, who met me at the pier.

I spent Easter in Melbourne and came to Bendigo a week later.

Mrs. Pierce, who is probably the first lady to come to Bendigo to reside after marrying a Bendigonian abroad, has travelled extensively. Amongst the places she has visited are Italy, Spain' Portugal, Switzerland, India, West Africa, Belgium, Austria, Germany,

France, Russia, and Holland.

Private J. W. Pierce, husband of the brave little Canadian lady, has land at Nyah near Swan Hil. He enlisted early in 1915, and sailed in May of that year for Egypt. In Egypt he contracted enteric fever. He re-covered and rejoined his unit, after which he left, the land of the deserts for the Dardanelles. But he had the misfortune to be on the Southland which wes torpedoed before being rescued he was in the water for several hours with a broken ankle. He. was subsequently picked up by a steamer, which was recently torpedoed. For some time Private Pierce was in hospital at Lemnos.

He is now at headquarters on Salisbury Plain. About 50 friends assembled at the residence of Mr. Will Pierce, "Ng We," Lyttleton-ter

race, on Saturday, 2nd inst., and accorded Mrs. J. W. Pierce a welcome in the form of "a linen tea." The large dining room and the tea tables were prettily decorated with flags of the Allies. The serviettes were boat shaped and bore the name of the ship in which Mrs. Pierce travelled to Australia. A nice programme arranged by Mrs. Earl was contributed, including items by Misses Marjorie Pierce. Florrie MundY, and Mr. R. Plunbe. Parlor games were indulged in and a very pleasant, evening was spent. The grand march and presentation were arranged by Mrs.& Dr. Cook.