Les Pearce

Major General Leslie Arthur Pearce (22 January 1918 – 21 December 2002) was a senior commander in the New Zealand Army. He served as Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the New Zealand Army, from 1971 to 1973, when he retired. He was the first soldier in the New Zealand Army who rose from private to Chief of Army.

Early life Pearce was born on 22 January 1918 in the Auckland suburb of Herne Bay. His parents were Bessie (; 1879–1940) and Frank Pearce (1874–1956). Both from Bristol in England, his parent had married on 4 August 1904 at the Wesleyan Church in New Plymouth.

On 3 July 1944, Pearce married Fay Mattocks of Balmoral at St Barnabas' Church in Mount Eden. They were to have two sons and one daughter.

Pearce was in Malaya as a lieutenant colonel from 1960 to 1964 following the Malayan Emergency, during which time he was commander of the 1st Infantry Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. He also served in the Vietnam War as a brigadier.

Honours and commemoration In the 1956 New Year Honours, Pearce was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the military division. In the 1964 New Year Honours, he was promoted to Officer of the same order. In the 1972 New Year Honours, he was promoted to Commander of the same order. In the 1973 Birthday Honours, he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath.

Death Pearce died in Auckland on 21 December 2002. His funeral was held at St Peter's Anglican Church in Takapuna.