Discovering the stories behind personal memorials to those who served in war by those who knew them best
Wars Last Goodbyes
Individual Record
Inscription
Also their eldest son
Wm James Pearce
Stoker First Class
H.M.S. Vehement
Who lost his life while serving his
Country in the North Sea, Aug
2nd 1918 Aged 33 years
Greater love hath no man than
This that a man lay down his
Life for his friends St John XV 13
Place of Inscription
Farrington Gurney (St John the Baptist)
Somerset
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William James
Pearce
5th June 1885
Farrington Gurney, Somerset
2nd August 1918
HMS Vehement hit a German mine in the North Sea near Heligoland Bight. Her forward magazine blew up and tore off the front half of the ship. One officer and 47 ratings were killed including William. The fires were put out and there was an attempt to tow her back to port but she was sunk after becoming unstable. \her sister ship HMS Ariel, another mine-layer also hit a mine on the same evening but sank quickly.
33
Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon
First World War
Stoker 1st Class
HMS Vehement Royal Navy
His body was not recovered. The ship's home port was Immingham. William saw service from mid-1916.
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