Twist of fate in family reunion on Hobart Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue

UNTIL last week, Danielle Gray and Ann Worsley were complete strangers sharing a unique connection.

Danielle Gray, secretary of the Friends of Soldiers' Memorial Avenue, left, with Ann Worlsey, 77, of Margate at the tree of Henry Pearce. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

UNTIL last week, Danielle Gray and Ann Worsley were complete strangers sharing a unique connection.

The common link was a house at 21 Hill St, West Hobart, and a young man commemorated on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue.

The two women last week met for the first time at the memorial avenue on the Hobart’s Queens Domain to commemorate a soldier who it was believed had no living relatives.

The soldier, Corporal Henry George Pearce, is remembered at tree 173 on the avenue and has featured in the “100 Days of Heroes” series in the Mercury and Sunday Tasmanian.

Born at Cambridge in 1883, he died at in 1916 at age 33 after suffering severe wounds while serving in France.

MORE 100 DAYS OF HEROES:

SICKNESS STRUCK AS JAMES FISHER SAILED TO WAR

DOUBLE THE PAIN FOR WICKINS BROTHERS’ MUM

FAMILY OF PHILLIP TURNER NEVER FORGETS

Corporal Henry George Pearce is commemorated at tree 173 on the Soldiers' Memorial Avenue in Hobart.

Danielle Gray, secretary of the Friends of Soldiers Memorial Avenue (FOSMA), reached out to the newspapers after trying to locate the Henry’s family for about six years.

“FOSMA’s goal is to reunite soldiers and their families within this memorial avenue,” Ms Gray said.

By coincidence, Ms Gray once owned the Hill St house where the Pearce family used to live — she even has a photo that shows Henry in a recognisable spot at the address.

“The house retained a lot of its aged features and was in a nice original condition when we had it,” she said.

After Henry’s story was published, 77-year-old Ann Worsley came forward to claim the soldier as a great uncle on her father’s side.

“I had never heard about Henry from my father or other family,” Mrs Worsley said.

“I could have been too young to remember or ask questions, but I don’t recall this part of my family coming up in conversation.”

Mrs Worsley said she was thrilled that there was a place on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue for her to visit and pay her respects.

Henry Pearce’s plaque on the Friends of Soldiers' Memorial Avenue. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

Henry Pearce had one brother and six sisters, but only one of his sisters married — Mrs Worley’s grandmother.

“As people die out, so do the stories that they know,” Mrs Worsley said. “I’m glad that I have been able to find out about Henry.”

Mrs Worsley and Ms Gray said the “100 Days of Heroes” series was interesting for all the right reasons.

“It’s fantastic,” Ms Gray said. “It’s what we at FOSMA were hoping for — we find people who didn’t realise they had a connection with the avenue, who then see a tree or plaque and realise that they are related to a soldier.

“We have had a great response from the public about this 100 Days series but there are still soldiers that we need photos of, and we will continue searching to add some more character to these soldiers’ histories.

“This is as much about the families as it is the soldiers. This is a real families place.”

Mrs Worsley said she hoped the newspaper series would produce further family reunions.

Kye Salkeld is a UTAS journalism student.