Herbert Wilfred Dean Pearce – Royal Navy, HMS Diamond

Able Seaman Herbert Wilfred Dean Pearce – Royal Navy, HMS Diamond

Birth and Early Life

Herbert Wilfred Dean Pearce, commonly known as Wilfred, was born in 1920 at Oystermouth. He is commemorated on the Mumbles War Memorial. There are no surviving census or civil records relating to his early life.

Official Records

British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records

The principal official record relating to Herbert’s service and death is held by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. In addition, his death is recorded in the British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, confirming the circumstances of his wartime loss.

Naval Service

Herbert served as an Able Seaman with the Royal Navy.

Loss of HMS Diamond

HMS Diamond

On 27^th April 1941, Herbert lost his life following the sinking of HMS Diamond during operations in the Mediterranean.

At the time of her loss, HMS Diamond, a D-class destroyer, was operating in the Saronic Gulf near Athens during the final stages of the Greek Campaign. British and Commonwealth forces were being evacuated under intense pressure following the rapid German advance across mainland Greece. Diamond was engaged in evacuation and escort duties, supporting the withdrawal of Allied troops in conditions of near-constant enemy attack.

During these operations, the ship was subjected to repeated Luftwaffe dive-bomber attacks, at a time when German air forces enjoyed overwhelming superiority. Diamond was hit by bombs, causing severe damage and fires. Despite attempts to control the situation, the order was given to abandon ship, and the destroyer subsequently sank, resulting in heavy loss of life. Although some survivors were rescued by accompanying vessels, many members of the crew were killed during the attacks or drowned after abandoning ship.

Able Seaman Herbert Wilfred Dean Pearce was among those who lost their lives. His death reflects the extreme dangers faced by Royal Navy crews during the evacuation of Greece and highlights the vulnerability of surface ships operating without adequate air cover.

Burial and Commemoration

Herbert Wilfred Dean Pearce
Phaleron War Cemetery, Greece
credit - findagrave

Herbert is buried at the Phaleron War Cemetery, Greece, where many Commonwealth servicemen who died during the Greek Campaign of 1941 are laid to rest.