Benjamin PEARCE - always known as Jack - was born 13Aug1891 at Onehunga, New Zealand. He was apprenticed as a plumber to R.W. Jenkins. Jack joined the Army and is described as 5'6" tall weighing 9st 10oz with ruddy complexion, blue eyes and auburn hair. A photo of Jack and another soldier in full uniform appeared in the N.Z. Freelance on 23Mar1917.

Jack was a Private in 4th Batt/3rd N.Z. Rifle Brigade, his Military Number 74762. After three months training they sailed for England per "105 SS Remuera" arriving at Liverool on 31Jul1918. He left for France after two months of training, marching into Etaples in France on 27th Sep1918. He joined Battalion as a rifleman, being posted to D Company on 30Sep1918.
Jack was wounded in action 5Oct1918 - a gunshot wound to right buttock. He was admitted via 2nd N.Z. Field Ambulance to 11 Staty Hospital in Rouen on 7Oct1918.Later he travelled by hospital ship to 1st N.Z General Hospital at Brockenhurst on 11Oct1918 being discharged on 17Dec1918. He marched in Larkhill on 3Jan1919 and Torquay on 1Jul1919.
He embarked for N.Z on H.M.N.Z Troop Ship "288 SS Ionic" at Plymouth on 8Sep arriving Wellington on 25Oct1919. Jack was discharged from Army on 22Nov1919 receiving the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

While recuperating in England, he met Jean FORSYTH who was working in London. After a short courtship of five months they were married on 2May1919 at 5 Phillips St, Paisley in Scotland. During their honeymoon the couple visited the Wallace Memorial at Sirling in Scotland where they climbed to the top. Jean sent a postcard of the Memorial to her family.

Jean came back as a War Bride to N.Z. and lived at Huia St, Petone in Wellington. Benjamin prospered and they owned their home at 4 Adelaide St, Petone where their daughter Helen WHYTE was born on 20Apr1921.

Jean was homesick for Scotland so the family returned there for a year where their first daughter, Helene WHYTE PEARCE, was christened - hence the two surnames as is the Scottish tradition!
A passport had been issued to Jack, Jean and daughter Helene on 10Oct1922 by N.Z authorities. Jean is aged 32, 5' 6 1/2" tall with high forehead, blue eyes, ordinary nose, medium mouth and chin, dark hair and complexion and oval face. Both Jack and Jean signed their names in full. The passport states they were travelling to England.

Jobs were becoming scarce so the familiy returned to N.Z. where things were not much better. Another daughter Jean was born 30Apr1925 at Petone, N.Z. The family sailed to Australia in Oct1925 - Annie Newey (Jack's mother) had painted a very rosy picture - a land of milk and honey!

A third daughter Dorothy Ann was born 14Dec1926 after the family arrived in Australia. Benjamin was without a job, but grew vegetables for the family to eat. He tried to sell some by taking a huge basket full every day down to Manly Wharf. He often returned with a full basket - selling none.

Life in Sydney during the Depression was very difficult. The family never regained the life they had in N.Z. where Jack had his own plumbing business and they owned their own home. He worked hard as a plumber, but when nearly at retirement age his employer went bankrupt and left Jack and Jean in a very ordinary financial position. Jack's health was deteoriating and he died 26May1960 aged 68 at Neringah Nursing Home, Wahroonga, after a long illness. He was privately cremated on 28May1960. Details as per Sydney Morning Herald 30May1960.