| Joe Pearce | |||
|---|---|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Joe_Pearce_(1912).jpeg) | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Arthur Mueller Pearce | ||
| Date of birth | 28 January 1885 | ||
| Place of birth | Sandhurst, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 25 April 1915 (aged 30) | ||
| Place of death | Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, Ottoman Turkey | ||
| Original team(s) | South Bendigo | ||
| Height | 184 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Weight | 80 kg (176 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1904–1913 | Melbourne | 152 (5) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1913. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Arthur Mueller "Joe" Pearce (28 January 1885 – 25 April 1915) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Throughout his life, he was always known as "Joe".[1]
He was a member of the First AIF, and was killed in action whilst landing at Gallipoli, Ottoman Turkey on 25 April 1915, during the Gallipoli campaign.[2][3] His 152 League games became the most of any VFL player killed in World War I.[a]
- ^ It is most likely that it was to distinguish young "Arthur" from his father, who was also an "Arthur", but known as "John".
- ^ Lane, Daniel, "ANZAC hero Ted Larkin: The greatest sacrifice of all", The Sydney Morning Herald, (18 April 2015).
- ^ Despite various suggestions given over time, related to particular individuals, it is clear that, because, at least, six former VFL footballers were killed during the chaos of the landing at Anzac Cove – Rupert Balfe (University, Alan Cordner (Geelong and Collingwood), Claude Crowl (St Kilda), Charlie Fincher (South Melbourne), Fen McDonald (Carlton and Melbourne), and Joe Pearce (Melbourne) – it can never be definitively argued that one of these men was "the first VFL footballer killed in the First World War".