Name
Andre Mellard Pearkes
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/08/1915
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Captain
West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HELLES MEMORIAL
Panel 47 to 51.
Turkey (including Gallipoli)
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford, Watford Conservative Club Memorial
Pre War
Son of Walter and Kate (nee CULSHAW) PEARKES of Watford.
His parents married 20 May 1886 at St Andrew’s, Watford. Walter died 16 September 1925 aged 70; Catherine died 20 November 1926 aged 62; both in Watford.
Andre was born 1888 in Watford, and baptised 3 June 1888 at St Mary’s, Watford.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar
On the 1891 Census, aged 3 he lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1901 Census, a pupil aged 12, he lived at Tunbridge School, Kent. On the 1911 Census, a solicitor’s articled clerk aged 22, he lived in Watford, with his parents and no siblings.
Wartime Service
He attested 6 December 1910 at Dukes Road, Euston, London, in the Territorial Force, 4 years service in the U.K., as Private 931 28th (Artists’ Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment: an articled clerk aged 22, 5’7″ tall. He was discharged 17 September 1914 in consequence of appointment to 2nd Lieutenant in the Temporary Army. He departed Liverpool aboard the Aquitania 3 July 1915, landing at Lemnos 11 July 1915. He was reported missing, presumed killed in action at Gallipoli. He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 10 July 1915; the medals were sent to his father of Watford.
Additional Information
There are articles about Andre in the Watford Illustrated dated 19 September 1914, 10 July 1915 and 4 September 1915; and the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 24 April 1915, 28 August 1915 and 22 January 1916.
Andre is also commemorated on his grandfather's grave in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
