PEARCE, Dr James Vine (1889-1960)James Vine Pearce was born on 20 November 1889, the son of James Pearce and Druscilla nee Gribble. He was enrolled as a boarder at Geelong College in 1904. He left in 1908. His address at enrolment was 30 Pleasant St, Ballarat. He was a member of the 1st Football XVIII in 1907 and 1908; the 1st Cricket XI in 1st Rowing VIII in 1908; and a School Prefect in 1908. After leaving College he went to Ormond College, The University of Melbourne, where he graduated MB BS.
During World War I, he enlisted in the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) as a Captain on 25 July 1915, and embarked at Sydney on
HMAT A45 Bulla on 25 November 1915 with 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station to Egypt, then to 15th Field Ambulance, with the rank of Major in France, in February 1918. He was demobilised from the AIF in March 1919.
His obituary in
Pegasus of 1960 is as follows:
'Dr J V Pearce died in June. He had a notable part in the College sporting life in his last year at school (1908), being bow of the 1st VIII ad a member of the 1st XVIII and 1st XI. He was also a Prefect in that year. At the time of his death Dr Pearce was living in Echuca.' He died at Echuca on 7 June 1960.
His brother,
William Bastion Pearce (1891-1939), was also educated at Geelong College.
His cousin,
Captain Joseph William Pearce MC (1886-1917), also an Old Collegian, was killed in action at Broodseinde in October 1917 during World War I.
Sources: Pegasus December 1960 p71; Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p 283 (citing The University of Melbourne: Record of Active Service of Teachers, Graduates, Undergraduates, Officers and Servants (1926); Pegasus; National Archives.