Thomas George Pearce was born in Birmingham, England and was a Bricklayer by trade when he enlisted from Ballarat in the 8th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement on 8 January 1916 at the age of 28. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A23 Suffolk on 1 April 1916. In July he joined the 59th Battalion in France. He was wounded in action on October 5th, suffering shell shock, but was able to return to his unit three days later. In June 1917 he faced a General Court Martial where he was found guilty of desertion and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour. On July 14th, after he had served 28 days, the sentence was suspended then finally remitted in February 1919. He returned to Australia on the Warwickshire and disembarked at Melbourne on May 29th 1919.
Tree No. 2677