Sydney Thomas PIERCE
Year of Birth: 1919
Place of Birth: Moogara, Tasmania, Australia
Date of Enlistment: 27 May 1940, Bushy Park, Tasmania, Australia
Australian Defence Force: Australian Imperial Force
Rank: Driver
Unit(s): 2/153 General Transport Company, Australian Army Service
Service Number: TX1557
Died: 13 November 1944
Age: 24 years
Buried: Cairns War Cemetery – Plot A – Row B – Grave 12
Sydney Thomas Pierce was born in Moogara, Tasmania, 28 November 1919 to Sydney and Elizabeth Pearl (Johnson) Pierce. His occupation on his enlistment was a farm hand/ labourer, next of kin his father Mr Sydney Thomas Pierce of Bushy Park, Tasmania. Sydney was one of twelve children.
He served in the Middle East and Port Moresby.
An Army Court of Enquiry found that Sydney met his death as a result of an accident between Trinity Beach area and Barron River, when a water lorry driven by deceased overturned and pinned him beneath the hub of the front wheel, causing suffocation due to crushing his chest. They also found there was no neglect on the part of any person contributing to his cause of death.
Sydney Thomas Pierce’s name is on the New Norfolk Roll of Honour board and is also located at panel 83 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial.
Online Resources
NAA: B883, (PIERCE Sydney Thomas) National Archives of Australia
Department Veterans’ Affairs Nominal Rolls
National Library of Australia: Trove Digitised Newspapers
Queensland Registrar of Births Deaths & Marriages
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