Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lance-Corporal

Unit:

1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment, British Army

Awarded on:

February 20th, 1945

Awarded for:

Operation Market Garden

"For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy serving with 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, in action from 17 September 1944 to 25 September 1944, during the battle of Arnhem, Belgium. When the whole of his brigade had become split up into isolated groups with no chain of command, Lance Corporal Pearce collected sixteen men of his battalion and put himself, and them, under the command of the rearguard, 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. On 23 September 1944, when a heavy enemy attack was developing in his sector, he led forward a Bren Gun team, established himself in a forward position, and, with complete disregard for his own safety, kept his gun in action, thus enabling the whole sector to be consolidated."

Headquarters: European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 18