- Extended Description
- Charles Harry PEARCE. Corporal 2770 Royal Marine Light Infantry on HMS Dreadnought.
Born 11 February 1866 at St Pancras London, civilian occupation, on enlistment, printer Unable to find his parents.
Died 31 May 1892 when he died of a fractured skull as the result of a fall into a drydock at the Grand Harbour, Malta from his ship.
Notes from his service record
Enlisted 14 January 1884 in London by Lieutenant Colonel J Moody, Royal Marine and he was posted to the Marine Depot, (k/a Walmer) Deal Kent,
After he finished his training, he was sent to the Chatham Division from 11 February 1884 to 27 February 1885.
HMS Pembroke from to 28 February 1885 03 March 1886 and returned to the Chatham Division.
HMS Alacrity from 12 June 1886 to 28 January 1887
HMS ? 29 January 1887 to 04 April 1889
HMS Orontes 05 April 1889 to -2 June 1889. And he returned to Chatham Division.
HMS Polyphemus 23 September 1890 to 15 December 1891.
HMD Dreadnought 16 December 1891 to 31 May 1892 when he died of a fractured skull as the result of a fall in a drydock at the Grand Harbour, Malta.
He may have been buried in Bighi Naval Cemetery, Malta, which was closed 1966-67 and reburied in a mass grave in Capuccini Naval Cemetery.
Sheerness Guardian and East Kent Advertiser - Saturday 11 June 1892
FATAL ACCIDENT AT MALTA.
A sad accident happened few days since to Corporal Pearce, R.M.L.I, serving on board H.M.S. Dreadnought at Malta. He was doing duty in the middle watch, and while stepping from the ship on to the brow he stumbled and fell with such force against the protective chain which runs round the ship on the upper deck, that the stanchions and chain securing were carried away, and Pearse himself was precipitated headlong into the Somerset Dock, where the where Dreadnought was Iying. He was picked up dead.
