Private Mervyn L Pearce

Mervyn Lewis Pearce son of Frank James and Catherine Pearce; husband of Margaret Mary Pearce, of Middlesbrough, Yorkshire. He enlisted into the Royal Artillery, transferred to the Royal Engineers and then volunteered for airborne forces.

Lance Corporal Pearce undertook parachute training on No 71 Training Course at RAF Ringway, which ran from 5 to 17 July 1943. His course report states that he was a good pupil, he hit his head on the first aircraft jump but cheerfully continued. He completed 8 descents. He was posted to B Company 6th Battalion (10th Bn The Royal Welch Fusiliers) The Parachute Regiment.

He took part in the amphibious landings in Italy in September 1943, on board a mine layer, HMS Abdiel. Unfortunately, HMS Abdiel struck a mine in Taranto Harbour causing significant casualties and loss of life, including L/Cpl Pearce.

L/Cpl Pearce died at sea on 10 September 1943, aged 30.

His body was recovered and buried at Taranto Military Cemetery. He was later identified and re-interred in Bari British Military Cemetery on 10 October 1944.

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