An Agricultural Engineer by profession with Messrs. Whatley and Co. of Cirencester, Benjamin Ernest Pearce initially served as a Lieutenant with the 1st Cirencester Company Boys’ Brigade. He enlisted with the RAMC at the Red Cross camp in Earl Bathurst’s Park in August 1914. He was promoted to Sergeant December 1914 and first entered the Theatre of War on 21 May 1915. Pearce was awarded the Military Medal for Gallantry at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, his citation reads as "For 21 consecutive days during the Somme battle he led his ambulance to and from the firing line conveying wounded to shelter over a distance of more than four miles, under continuous and heavy shell fire." Pearce was one of four brothers to serve in F&F during WWI, three of whom were awarded the MM for gallantry, the fourth was KIA. Benjamin Ernest Pearce died in Cirencester Memorial Hospital in March 1924 following a motor cycle collision. A verdict of accidental death was recorded at the coroner’s inquiry. Benjamin was the son of Frederick and Jessie Pearce of 54 Ashcroft Road, Cirencester. [Information special thanks to Michael W Cook]