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WORLD WAR ONE

The Men Who Died

WORLD WAR ONE

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Charles was born in Norfolk in February 1886, to Robert and Harriet, nee Lake. The family had moved to Middlesbrough by 1891 where Robert was a labourer in a steelworks. By 1901 the family had returned to Norfolk and Charles and his father were agricultural labourers. In 1911, Robert and Harriet remained in Norfolk but the children had left home. It is not clear where Charles was, although there was a Charles Pawley working as a baker in The Watton, Brecon. In 1917 Charles married Annie Elizabeth Price of Danygaer Place in Brecon, and previously of Wern Farm, Llanfrynach. The wedding was held at the Priory Church. Charles enlisted in the army in Swansea, initially joining the Army Service Corps, he was later assigned to the Machine Gun Corps. The 61st Company Machine Gun Corps fought with the 20th (Light) Division from 1916 until March 1918 when machine gun battalions were formed and joined the 20th Machine Gun Battalion on March 15th, 1918.The date of his death suggests he was involved in the Battle of Saint Quentin which was the first phase of the 1918 Battles of the Somme.

Charles was killed only three weeks before the birth of his son, William.

Private Edgar Pearce

Durham Light Infantry, 2nd Btn., service no. 4/9946

Died of Wounds on December 19th, 1915, aged 29

Buried at Hop Store Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium

Private Charles James Robert Pawley

Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) 61st Company, service no.

123633

Killed in Action on March 22nd, 1918 in France, aged 32

Commemorated at the Pozieres Memorial, France

Charles continued to work for the railway, but was now a boiler washer. Edgar, now 24 and single, joined his father working for the railway as a fitter's labourer. The family had now grown, his parents having been married for 26 years and having had 9 children, although one had died.

Edgar enlisted at Ferndale on September 1st, 1914 and joined the Durham Light Infantry and left for France in August 1915. He is listed as dying of wounds after a shell wound to the skull. He was admitted to a field dressing station, but died the same day. Edgar is buried at

Edgar was born in June, 1886 in Brecon and baptised in St Mary's Church in August of that year. He was the eldest son of Charles Pearce

(a plasterer) and his wife Annie (nee Jones). Charles was also born in Brecon in 1862 and married Annie on 18th June, 1884.

By 1891, when Edgar was 5 years old, the family were living at 46 The Struet, Brecon and he had 3 sisters. At this time his father was a steam-riser with the Midland Railway. Twenty years later in 1911 the family were still in The Struet, but now at number 43.

boiler washer.