Lance Corporal 22332 William Pearson

Died of Wounds on Monday, 9th September 1918, age unknown.
Buried in Grave IV. D. 21. at Aire Communal Cemetery, Pas De Calais, France.

2nd/8th Bn., Worcestershire Regiment. 182nd Brigade of 61st Division.
Formerly 22332 in 1st/7th, 1st and 4th Battalions, Worcestershire Regiment.

Husband of Alice Maud Pearson, of 11 Newhall Street, Princes End, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Dudley, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, 22nd September 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Commemorated on the Tipton Library, and St. John's memorials.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/467322/

Genealogical Data

The genealogy for WIlliam represents my best effort, but would require the 1915 wedding certificate to prove his father is Joseph Pearson (deceased). I have a high degree of confidence that this is correct.

1901 Census
138 High Street, Dudley, Worcs.
Joseph Pearson (39, Chain Maker, born Lye), his wife Matilda (41, born Chester), and their 4 children: Sarah (12, born Princes End), Annie (8, born Princes End), William (5, born Princes End), and Florrie (6 months, born Dudley).

In 1906 both Joseph and Matilda Pearson died. It seems that their son William went to live with his Uncle Joseph and Aunt Harriett in Princes End. Matilda was "Uncle" Joseph Pearson’s sister but she had married another Joseph Pearson so her maiden and married names were both Pearson.

1911 Census
1 House 3 Court, Newhall Street, Princes End, Tipton, Staffs.
Joseph Pearson (51, Chain Maker, born Cradley), his wife Harriett (53, born Coseley), and 5 of their 7 surviving children of 8: William (26, Striker at Chain Works, born Princes End), Lizzie (20, Servant, born Princes End), Alice (15, Servant, born Princes End), Harold (11, born Princes End), Samuel (9, born Princes End). Also William Pearson (15, relative, Coal Miner – Pit Boy Underground, born Tipton) and George Ellis (33, relative, Coal Miner – Loader Underground, born Princes End).

Marriage of William Pearson and Alice M. Pearson registered September quarter 1915 at Dudley. It would appear that they were cousins, and William was living with the family after his parents died in 1906. A daughter, Elsie May, was born on October 30th 1915.

Personal Data

After William's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £13/6/2d (13 pounds, 6 shillings and 2 pence); this was paid to his widow, Alice M., in December 1918. His War Gratuity was £15/0/0d (15 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his widow in December 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that William had enlisted in approximately June 1915.

William’s widow, Alice, was awarded a Pension Grant of £6/0/0d (6 pounds exactly) on 25th September 1918. She was then awarded a Widow's Pension of £1/0/5d (1 pound and 5 pence) per week for herself and her daughter, effective from 17th March 1919. Alice’s pension would have ceased in 1922 when she married Ernest Silk. She would have been compensated by a lump-sum payment approximately to the value of one year’s pension payments; the pension element in respect of her daughter, Elsie May, would continue until her 16th birthday.

Action resulting in his death

William Pearson died on wounds on 9th September 1918 after being treated at 54th Casualty Clearing Station at Aire, he was buried in Aire Communal Cemetery. We cannot be sure when William received the wounds which led to his death, but statistically it was likely to have been between the 3rd and 5th September near Estaires, which is about 12 miles east of Aire.

On the evening of September 2nd, the 2/8th Worcesters took over the front line near Estaires, just as the Germans were falling back across to the south bank of the River Lys. The Worcesters received orders that they were to attack at dawn on September 3rd and take the south bank of the river.

The bridge just to the south of Estaires, the Meuse Bridge, was passable and with no great opposition. To the east of the town a German military bridge had not been completely destroyed, and overnight the Worcesters with the Royal Engineers managed to made the bridge passable.

At 6.00am, the 2/8th Worcesters gained both bridges. ‘C’ & ‘D’ Companies crossed the Meuse Bridge and headed east to meet ‘A’ & ‘B’ Companies who had crossed the patched-up German military bridge.

By the end of the day (September 3rd) the Worcesters had advanced about a mile and overnight held the line of the railway near Laventie.

The advance continued on September 4th with the Worcesters taking Laventie which was a further ½ mile. German resistance was relatively light except that the left flank was held up for the rest of the day by the strongly-defended Barlette Farm.

Barlette Farm still resisted on September 5th and the Worcesters made little more headway here. The battalion was relieved that night.

The Passage of the Lys had been achieved with the loss of 10 Other Ranks killed in action, and 1 Officer and 55 Other Ranks wounded. William Pearson was likely one of those wounded in this fine action.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.