Capt (RAMC) Wilfrid Thomas Chaning-Pearce (MC)

• Age: 32
• From: Brixton, London
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 1st October 1917
• Commemorated at: Derry House Cem No.2
  Panel Ref: II.F.18

Wilfrid Thomas was born in Lambeth, London on the 1st April 1885 and was the son of Joseph Chaning-Pierce and his wife Elinor Lois (nee Thomas). 

PLEASE NOTE There are numerous spellings of Wilfrid's name including Wilfrid, Wilfred, Chaning-Pearce, Chaning-Pierce. We will stick with his name as Wilfrid Thomas Chaning-Pearce as this is how it is shown on his headstone and CWGC records.  

The 1891 Census shows the family are living at Victoria Parade, Ramsgte, Kent. The name on the Census is spelt Pearce. Father, Joesph, is a Registered physician and surgeon born at Bradford, Wiltshire in 1845. Mother Elinor Lois was born in London in 1847. Also present is S.Salter Pearce who is referred to as Brother born in 1843 and living on means. The children in the household are Elinor b. 1872, Amelia Stancomb b 1874, Eversley b.1877, Gwladys b. 1879, Wilfrid, Melville Salter b.1887 and Rosella Lois b. 1888. Also present are a Governess, a nurse and 4 servants.

Wilfrid was educated at "Lindenthorp" Broadstairs and at Rugby School. He will have boarded at Rugby which will probably account for his name not being recorded at the family home on the 1901 Census.

He entered Emmanuel College Cambridge between 1904 and 1907 studying Natural Sciences.  

The 1911 Census findsh im as a doctor aged 25 at the family practice at 4 Montague House, Victoria Parade, Ramsgate.

His mother died in 1914.

After filling posts such as obstetric resident and house anaesthetist ay Guy's Hospital and house surgeon at the West London Hospital and Croyden Hospital, Wilfrid took a temporary commission at Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps on 05/10/1914. He served overseas reaching France on 14/05/1915. He was subsequently promoted to Captain.

He won the Military Cross and Bar. The awards being reported in the London Gazette of 26/09/1917 (MC) and on 09/01/1918 (Bar). The citation for his bar is reproduced below:

Bar to M.C.: For, conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, in attending the wounded men belonging to 9 different battalions, under heavy and continuous shellfire. His Aid Post, was the only one in the vicinity, in such a forward position, and he worked continuously and without rest until all the wounded had been attended to, displaying splendid devotion to duty.  

He was appointed Medical Officer to the 18th Battalion in the autumn of 1916. He is first mentioned in the 18th Battalion War Diary as having ‘done some fine work’ during the Battle of Arras, from 9th to 10th April 1917. He was killed in action on October 01st 1917 near the village of Wytschaete in Belgium.

18^th Battalion War Diary for 01st October 1917

6:45 pm

The Medical Officer , Dr. W. T. CHANING – PEARCE M.C. left his Aid Post, at 0.21. Central for the purpose of visiting No.3 Coy H.Q. at WALL FARM. It was quite light at the time & he was accompanied by an Orderly. He proceeded along the VERNE ROAD through OOSTTAVERNE and eventually, reached a post in the Picquet Line, where he stopped and spoke with the N.C.O. on duty. This N.C.O. pointed out the position of Coy. H.Q. and the enemy lines.

Dr PEARCE assured him he knew his way to WALL FARM and left the Picquet Line at about 7 o’clock to continue his journey. For a reason which cannot be explained, Dr PEARCE then turned from the road to the left, towards the enemy lines, instead of to the right towards WALL FARM. He was seen by men holding posts in the Shell hole line to pass through our line of wire, and, shortly afterwards he was seen running back again towards our lines.

Before he could reach cover, however, he was shot dead from an enemy block-house in the neighbourhood of BEE FARM O.23.b.1.6. His orderly dragged him to a shell hole and remained until he was convinced he was dead, then ran to our lines. A patrol was sent out at dark to search for the Doctor’s body but could not find it. Further patrols went out, however, and it was eventually recovered and sent to DERRY HOUSE for burial.

Battalion H.Q. moved from DERRY HOUSE to PRINCE RUPRECHT’S DUGOUTS  at O.20.b.1.2.

Casualties      Killed

Capt. W.T. Chaning- Pearce M.C.

300035 Pte J Jones

300412 Pte A Wyman

He was 32 years of age and he now rests at Derry House Cemetery No.2 in Belgium where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR ANOTHER" 

Wytschaete (now Wijtschate) was taken by the Germans early in November 1914. It was recovered by Commonwealth forces during the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917, but fell into German hands once more on 16 April 1918. The village was recovered for the last time on 28 September.

Derry House Cemetery (there is now only one) was named after a farm, which had been nicknamed "Derry House" by soldiers of the Royal Irish Rifles. It was begun among the ruins of the farm in June 1917 by a field ambulance unit of the 11th Division (32nd Brigade). It was used as a front line cemetery until December 1917, and again in October 1918 by the 2nd London Scottish.

The cemetery contains 166 First World War burials and the remains of a concrete command post built by engineers of the 37th Division in July 1917.

The cemetery was designed by W.H. Cowlishaw.

A letter was sent to one of Wilfrid's brothers by the Battalion Chaplain. In this, the Chaplain wrote:

“Your dear old brother, one of the bravest and best fellows going, was killed near the Boche Line on October 1st at 19.30pm . He was going on a errand of mercy, fearlessly as usual, and lost his way, going across No Man’s Land, came to a German outpost, was challenged by the sentry. He was hit in the chest and killed immediately. Your brother was much liked in the Regiment, and much admired; he knew no fear, and soldiers love a brave doc. We shall miss him dreadfully. “

The Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel WR Pinwell said of him:

“As a Regimental Medical Officer, he was the best I have ever met in many years service, and no trouble was too much for him in his efforts for both the well being of officers and men of the 18th Battalion."

The Guy's Hospital Gazette dated 03rd November 1917 details Wilfrid's career in medicine as well as a glowing tribute from his Colonel;

It is with very deep regret that we have to announce in the casualty list the name of Temp. Capt. Wilfrid Chaning-Pearce M.C., R.A.M.C.; the third son of Dr. and the late Mrs Chaning-Pearce of Montague House, Ramsgate. He was educated at "Lindenthorp." Broadstairs. And Rugby, and later entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge where he took his Science Tripos and commenced his medical studies. Continuing at Guy's in 1908 he held numerous appointments and was held in very great esteem by all with whom he associated in any way during that time, until his departure on qualifying early in 1911. Soon after the commencement of hostilities he joined the R.A.M.C., and had been serving in France practically since that time. No mention of how the Military Cross was gained has been received by the family except in the bare official announcement that it had been bestowed early in September, 1917.

The Colonel writing says:- As the officer commanding the battalion he served with us so long and so devotedly, I thought I would like to write and tell you what a grievous blow his death is. As you know he has been with us some twelve months, taking part in three general actions and numerous smaller engagements. His absolute contempt for danger and cheerful endurance of exposure and hardship were known to all, and his personality was such that he instilled confidence into those around him in moments of greatest stress. No man more thoroughly deserved the M.C. which he won for his gallant conduct in recent operations. As a Regimental Medical Officer he was the best I have ever met, in many years’ service, and no trouble was too much for him in his efforts for the health and wellbeing of both officers and men of the battalion. He met his death on October 1st, being shot by a German at close range while trying to find one of our forward companies. His body was recovered at the second attempt that night. He was buried yesterday, October 2nd, at 3.30 p.m., with such military honours as were possible under the circumstances. With the deepest sympathy to you and all others near and dear to him, from all the officers of the battalion, and particularly from those on the headquarters, with whom he lived on terms of close personal friendship.”

His early death will be a very severe blow, not only to his home circle throughout the Isle of Thanet, but also to the much wider circle of friends which he made wherever he went, and we wish to express our deepest sympathies to Dr. Chaning-Pearce and his family for the loss not only of a son, but one whose life held out so much future promise. 

Wilfred is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Rugby School

Emmanuel College Cambridge

Holy Trinity WW1 Memorial and Tablets

His brother Melville also served during the war. He was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Dorsetshire Regiment. His sister Lois also served as a Nurse in the V.A.D.  

Probate was granted on the 09th January 1918 to his two sisters Elinor and Amelia.   

The CWGC records his details as follows: Son of Joseph and Elinor Lois Chaning-Pearce, of Ramsgate, Kent. B.A. (Cambridge), M.B., B.Ch., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. (Lond.) Obst. Res. and House Anaesthesist Guy's Hospital, House Surgeon London Hospital.

His father passed away in 1925.

We currently have no further information on Wilfrid Thomas Chaning-Pearce, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

The photograph of Wilfrid is reproduced by kind permission of Rugby School Archives & Special Collections