Wakefield Express WW1 – Thomas Pearson

Wakefield Family’s Sacrifice

Two Sons Killed and Another a Prisoner of War

The Other in Training

Mr. and Mrs. T. Pearson, Jubilee Terrace, Saville Street, Wakefield, have suffered another bereavement in the death in action of their youngest son, Private Thomas Pearson, of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.  They have received very sympathetic letters from an officer and a private, and it appears that the young soldier – he was nineteen years of age – met his death on Sept., 21st.  He was going with his platoon into the front line trench, when a shell dropped near him and killed him and two of his comrades instantaneously.  The officer in the course of his letter says “I have lost a gallant young member of my platoon.  It was his first time in the trenches.  He was a nice boy, and gave such promise of becoming a fine soldier.”  Deceased joined the colours on February 15th last, and had been in France only six weeks.

Mr. and Mrs. Pearson’s second son, Pte., Alfred Pearson, was killed in action n September 25th, 1916, and their eldest son Private Sam Pearson, York and Lancaster Regiment was taken a prisoner by the Germans on April 9th last.  Their third son, Private Mawson Pearson, K.O.Y.L.I., is at present in training  at Rugeley Camp.

Wakefield Express  3rd November 1917.

Who are these young men?

Thomas, served as Private 36270, in the KOYLI’s.  He died, as we know, on the 21st of September 1917.  He rests in Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, with over 650 other identified casualties of war and over 400 whose headstone says ‘A soldier of the Great War’.

Theipval Memorial to the Missing

Theipval Memorial to the Missing

Alfred served as Private 17294 in the KOYLI’s.  He died, as we know in September, 1916. He is remembered on the Theipval Memorial to the Missing, with over 72,000 others whose final resting place is known only unto their God.

Mawson Pearson served as Private 205520 in the KOYLI’s.  Mawson died in Wakefield aged 70 years in 1966.  Mawson and his brother Sam are both entered in the Absent Voters List for 1918.

Sam Pearson served as Private 32102 in the York and Lancs., Regiment and is not listed on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission list – so it looks like he survived!