February 8, 2001 17:19: NEED TO GET NAME OF BUILDING BUSINESS - ASK MICHELEFORMER Second World War prisoner Sidney Matthew Pierce who survived the horrific conditions of a Polish coal mine, has died at the age of 76.

Mr Pierce died from lung cancer at his home in The Alms Houses, Chichester Row, High Wycombe, on Saturday, January 27.

It was during his stint with the 5th Battalion at Anzio, Italy, in 1944 that he was captured and forced to work deep in the mines in Poland until the end of the war.

Mr Pierce and his father set up a building business when he returned from the war in 1945, which thrived until its closure in 1995.

Mr Pierce was born at Farnham Royal Hospital, Slough, in 1924 and moved to High Wycombe when he was three years old.

Educated at Hamilton Primary School, Priory Road, a 17-year old Sid joined the Grenadier Guards in 1941.

In 1951 he met and married his beloved wife Monica. He was a lifelong member of the High Wycombe division of the Royal British Legion and fundraiser for the Aylesbury branch Guards Association.

The funeral service was held at All Saints Parish Church, Castle Street, High Wycombe, on Tuesday and drew a crowd of well over 140 friends and family.

The Grenadier Guards, The Royal British Legion and the Prisoners of War Association all attended. Mr Pierce is survived by his wife Monica, sons David and Gerald and granddaughter Melissa.