Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

William Owen Pearce

Born in Wales, family moved to Berk'd, worked as a labourer, died of tuberculous meningitis aged 15.

• Victoria Culverhouse

William Owen Pearce – died 15th. February 1942, aged 15 years

William Owen Pearce was born in Pontypridd, Wales in 1926, the sixth of eight children of Hughie Pearce, a coal hewer, and his wife Mary, nee Elms.  Hughie and Mary had married in 1909, and at the time of the 1911 Census were living at 46 Edmund Street with their 4 month-old daughter Margaret Ann.  Hughie, aged 22, was working in the local Colliery (coal mine) and Mary gives her age as 21.   Another daughter, Linda, followed in 1913.

With the outbreak of war in 1914, Hughie enlisted  in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and went off to fight in France.  He served up until 1918, when he was discharged before the war ended in November.  We know this because Hughie was awarded the Silver War Badge.  This was a silver pin that ex-soldiers could wear on their civilian clothing to show that they had fought in the war, but had been discharged due to wounds or were now unfit to fight.  This stopped thoughtless people from accusing them of cowardice because they weren’t in uniform.

On Hughie’s return home, the family began to increase once more. Mary was born in 1918, followed by Hugh in 1921, Betty in 1925, William in 1926, Violet in 1927 and Evan in 1930.  Sometime within the next few years, the family moved to Hertfordshire – Linda was married in Berkhamsted in 1932, followed over the next few years by her sisters.  It may be that employment prospect were better, the late 20’s and early 30’s were difficult times economically.

Young William was working as a labourer when at the beginning of 1942, he became ill.  He was diagnosed with Tuberculous Meningitis – this is a bacterial infection causing inflammation of the membranes around the brain or spinal cord. Symptoms can develop over a period of time, affecting the central nervous system.  It is still a critical disease today, but diagnosis and treatment have much improved since William’s day.  William was admitted to West Herts. Hospital in Hemel Hempsted, where he passed away on the 15th of February, a sad loss of a young life.  At the time of his illnesss he was living at 1 Green Walk, Swing Gate Lane, Berkhamsted. His death was registered the following day by his father and he is buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery.