Royal Fusiliers, elder _s._ of Hugh Lee Pattinson, of Lowlynn,
Beal, co. Northumberland, by his wife, Mary Constance, dau. of
Lawrence W. Adamson; _b._ Newcastle-on-Tyne, 21 Aug. 1888; educ.
Bengeo School, co. Herts; Rugby (Payne Smith’s, now Wilson’s House);
Stubbington House, Fareham, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst;
gazetted 2nd Lieut., 3rd Battn. Royal Fusiliers, 6 Feb. 1909, and
promoted Lieut. 14 Feb. 1912; temporary Capt. 28 Sept. 1914, and Capt.
9 March, 1915, being Adjutant of the 9th Battn. from 5 Sept. till the
time of his death. He joined his regt. in Pietermaritzburg in 1909;
went with it to Mauritius, then to Meerut and Chakrata, India, and
finally to Lucknow; returned to England on leave in May, 1914, and on
the outbreak of war the following Aug. was posted to the 9th Battn.
Royal Fusiliers; went to France, 31 May, 1915, and was killed in action
at Houplines, 4 Aug. 1915, while superintending a working party in the
communication trenches. Brig.-Gen. Borradaile wrote: “His loss will be
severely felt in the Battn., in forming which he took such a large and
conspicuous share, and also in the Brigade, as his qualifications as
a soldier were exceptional, and had he been spared he would have made
his mark.” The Major commanding the Battn. wrote: “I should like you to
know that this is an irreparable loss to the Regt., and particularly
to this Battn. Taken all round he was the most efficient fellow I have
ever worked with”; and a brother officer: “He was a splendid soldier,
absolutely fearless, and loved by both officers and men.” He _m._,
22 July, 1914, Catherine Lina, dau. of John Patricius Chaworth-Musters,
of Annesley Park, co. Notts, J.P., and had two daus.
[Illustration: =Hugh Lee Pattinson.=]
=PATTLE, ERNEST=, Private, No. 11086, 4th (Reserve) Battn.
Coldstream Guards, _s._ of Arthur Pattle, of Denham, Bury St.
Edmunds, by his wife; _b._ Denham, co. Suffolk, 8 Sept. 1881;
educ. National School there; enlisted Oct. 1914, and was missing after
the action at Givenchy, 22 Dec. 1914, and is now assumed to have been
killed that day; _unm._
=PATTON, WILLIAM=, Leading Seaman, 188359, H..M.S. Pathfinder;
lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East
Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=PAUL, GAVIN=, Lieut., 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen’s Bays), elder
_s._ of the late Gavin Paul, of Edinburgh, Coalmaster; _b._
Edinburgh, 8 Aug. 1893; educ. Bramcote, Scarborough, and Radley
College, near Oxford; gazetted 2nd Lieut., 2nd Dragoon Guards, 4 March,
1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc., and was
killed in action at Messines, 31 Oct. following; _unm._
=PAUL, GEORGE THOMAS=, Stoker, 1st Class, S.S. 110586, H.M.S.
Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off
the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=PAUL, ROBERT=, Private, No. 196, H Coy. 1st Battn. Argyll and
Sutherland Highlanders, 2nd. _s._ of Robert Paul, of 22, Lutton
Place, Edinburgh, Plumber, by his wife, Eliza; _b._ Edinburgh, 28
May, 1889; educ. Preston Street Public School there; enlisted in Sept.
1908; served at Chatham, Malta, in India and with the Expeditionary
Force in France and Flanders; killed in action near Hooge, 10 May,
1915; _unm._ Writing to his father, his Chief Officer, Capt. J.
R. Couper, said: “He was killed instantaneously by a shell which burst
on the parapet in front of him and two others with him. The company
was heavily engaged at the time and later had to evacuate the trench
by order of our General. At night we went back and buried your son
along with ten others. The company lost on this date 11 killed and 22
wounded. The place was close to Hooge, which is east of Ypres, and the
exact spot of his grave is not marked by any special feature or by a
cross as the burial had to be done very hurriedly.... Your son was a
splendid ‘sticker,’ and though he suffered from very bad feet, always
refused to ‘go sick,’ and on one occasion when ordered to go to the
dressing station to have his feet treated, as he could not keep up with
his company, he very reluctantly went, but rejoined us within three
hours, having found his way to the trench at his own pace.”
=PAUL, WILLIAM HENRY BOWEY=, Ch. E.R.A., 2nd Class (Pensioner),
121261, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=PAULL, ALAN DRYSDALE=, Private, No. 721, Honourable Artillery
Company (T.F.), elder _s._ of Alan Paull, of Kylecote, Harrowdene
Road, Wembley, J.P., F.S.I., by his wife, Catherine Swan, dau. of
James Drysdale, of Devonside; _b._ Wembley, co. Middlesex, 10
June, 1894; educ. Colet Court, and St. Paul’s School, where he was a
Corpl. in the O.T.C.; entered his father’s office on leaving school,
having previously passed the examination and entered as a student
of the Surveyors’ Institution, and in 1914 passed the Intermediate
Professional Examination; joined the H.A.C. in 1912; volunteered for
foreign service on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; went to France
Sept. 1914, and was killed in action in the Ypres district 12 Dec.
following, being shot by a sniper while proceeding with his section
to reinforce the firing line; _unm._ He was buried at Kemmel, by
a cottage now know as “Paull’s Cottage.” His officer wrote: “Through
the great privations we have been through out here your son has always
been one of the most willing, capable and cheerful members of my
platoon, and I feel his loss as a friend, and his death is greatly felt
throughout the regiment. He was a splendid soldier;” and a comrade:
“All we in his section had learnt to understand and appreciate a kind
heart and an indomitable spirit such as his. His cheerful voice and
bright manner, how shall we get on without them, where cheerfulness
and fortitude are so dearly needed?” He played Rugby football for the
H.A.C., and represented them in boxing against the Cambridge University
in 1913.
[Illustration: =Alan Drysdale Paull.=]
=PAVEY, CHARLES=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 9373), S.S.
106584, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=PAVITT, STEPHEN ARTHUR=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 1010, H.M.S.
Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct.
1914; _m._
=PAVLOSKY, FREDERICK=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 4387), 194223, H.M.S. Good
Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=PAYNE, ALBERT JOHN=, Boy, 1st Class, J. 27539 (Ports.), H.M.S.
Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=PAYNE, ARTHUR JAMES=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 9552), 207907, Chatham,
H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1
Nov. 1914.
=PAYNE, ERNEST ALFRED=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 1820),
290191, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North
Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=PAYNE, JOHN HENRY=, A.B. 214259, H.M S. Hawke; lost when that
ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=PAYNE, CHARLES GERAINT CHRISTOPHER=, 2nd Lieut., 1st Battn.
Highland L.I., only _s._ of Charles Henry Payne, of Brentor,
Hereford, Manager of Lloyd’s Bank, Ltd., there, by his wife, Edith
McKenna, dau. of William Evans Commins; _b._ Shifnal, co. Salop,
23 April, 1888; educ. Ludlow and Monmouth (1897–1905 Exhibitioner)
Grammar Schools, and on leaving there was articled to his uncle, Mr.
Alexander Payne, a London Architect, and had just started on his own
account in the Metropolis when war was declared in Aug. 1914. He
immediately joined the Artists’ Rifles; proceeded to France with them
in the autumn of 1914; passed through the special training school for
officers at the front, and was given a commission as 2nd Lieut., 27
Jan. 1915, being posted to the Highland L.I., subsequently joining the
1st Battn. about 18 Feb. He was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 12
March following, and was buried behind the trenches there; _unm._
He was a strong swimmer and keen boating man; was also an excellent
’cellist, and a member of the Hampstead Orchestral Society.
=PAYNE, JOHN JAMES=, Corpl., No. 2245, 2nd Battn. Royal Sussex
Regt., eldest _s._ of Emily Payne (Gravel Pit Cottage, Rogate,
near Petersfield, co. Hants), yst. dau. of John Payne; _b._
Liss, co. Hants, 11 Oct. 1882; enlisted Royal Army Medical Corps, 24
Nov. 1899, and served throughout the South African War, 1899–1902
(Queen’s medal with three clasps, and King’s medal with two clasps);
re-enlisted in the 3rd (Reserve) Battn. Royal Sussex, as Corpl. Sept.
1908 then a Reservist, and served until 1909, when he purchased his
discharge; joined the 2nd Battn. 15 Aug. 1914; left for France, Nov.
1914; and was killed in action at Richebourg l’Avoué, 9 May, 1915. The
Quartermaster-Sergt. of his company wrote that he was struck in the
head by a bullet, death being instantaneous, and added, “I can say
that your son was a hard-working and zealous soldier and was esteemed
by us all, who sadly miss him.” He _m._ at Rogate, Sussex, 9 Jan.
1905, Lydia Jane, dau. of Charles William Locke, late of Liss, and had
two children: Albert, _b._ 13 June, 1907; and Emily, _b._ 14
June, 1905.
[Illustration: =John James Payne.=]
=PAYTON, CHARLES MERVYN=, Lieut. 3rd, attd. 1st, Battn. Royal West
Kent Regt., only _s._ of Sir Charles Payton, of Stepney Court,
Scarborough, M.V.O., late British Consul-General at Calais, by his
1st wife, Eliza Mary, dau. of the late John Olive; _b._ Mogador,
Morocco, 5 Dec. 1891; educ. Dover College, and on leaving there in
1909, became a Clerk under his father in the British Consulate at
Calais; gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the Reserve Battn. of the Royal West
Kent Regt., 1910, and promoted Lieut. 6 Sept. 1911; left the Army in
1912 to go to Singapore, where he held a post on a rubber plantation,
but in the following year was appointed Chief Clerk in the Colonial
Secretary’s Office, which appointment he gave up on the outbreak of war
in Aug. 1914; returned home and rejoined his old Regt., was on special
duty in England for some time; went to France in Jan. 1915, and was
killed in action during the 2nd Battle of Ypres, 18 April following.
He was leading his men in the attack on Hill 60 and had picked up the
rifle of a fallen soldier, and was firing at the enemy when he was shot
through the head. His Commanding Officer wrote that he had done very
good work, and “shown himself to be a brave man and a good leader,” and
a Sergt. of his Coy. wrote of him as “one of the best and truest, more
like a brother to the men than an officer, cheering in the blackest
times by his brave gaiety, and mourned by them as a brother.” Lieut.
Payton was mentioned in Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 31 May
[London Gazette, 22 June], 1915, for gallant and distinguished service
in the field. He was a keen sportsman, a remarkably good shot and
expert angler.
=PEACOCK, EDWARD DANIEL=, Leading Carpenter’s Crew, 345947, H.M.S.
Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=PEACE, HUBERT KIRKBY=, Lieut., 3rd Battn. York and Lancaster
Regt., attd. 1st Battn. Lincolnshire Regt., 3rd _s._ of the late
Hugh Kirkby Peace, of Springfield House, Sheffield, Steel Manufacturer,
by his wife, Emmeline (Sandygate, Sheffield), dau. of James Fawcett;
_b._ Sheffield, 16 Oct. 1881; educ. Rugby; became Managing
Director of his father’s firm, W. K. & C. Peace, File Manufacturers,
Feb. 1906; joined the 1st Volunteer Battn. York and Lancaster Regt.
(Doncaster Militia), afterwards the 4th (Hallamshire) Battn., and
served 10 years retiring in May, 1913, but, after the outbreak of war,
was given a commission in 3rd Battn. York and Lancaster Regt. as Lieut.
4 Sept. 1914, and went to France attd. to the 1st Lincolnshire Regt.,
on 3 Oct. 1914; and died in hospital at Aubers, on the morning of 17
Oct., of wounds received in action near Lille, the previous day. Buried
there. He had gone to the rear to hurry up supports, and he succeeded
in getting them, but as he was returning he was wounded in the neck
by a shot fired from a farm which it was supposed had been cleared by
the French. A wounded soldier in Leeds Base Hospital, belonging to the
Coldstream Guards said: “He died fighting to the last in trying to save
his platoon from being cut to pieces, and many will never be able to
give full praise and admiration for so gallant a deed.” He _m._ at
St. Leonards-on-Sea, 2 Aug. 1906, Grace Mary (Thurgoland, Sheffield),
dau. of Charles Weller, and had a son, George Hugh Kirkby, _b._ 15
Dec. 1909.
=PEACOCK, JOSEPH MOFFAT=, Sapper, No. 46405, R.E., eldest
_s._ of William Thomas Peacock, of Hartlepool, Driller, by his
wife, Sarah Carry, dau. of Joseph Moffat, of Monkwearmouth; _b._
Southwick-on-Wear, co. Durham, 8 Feb. 1894; educ. Southwick and Goole
Board Schools; was employed at Pickersgill’s and resided at 50, John
Street, Southwick; enlisted, 9 Sept. 1914; trained at Brixton, Henley
and Gillingham, and was killed in action “somewhere” in France, 10 Dec.
1915. His Chief Officer wrote “A shell came into their dug-out killing
four of them instantly. They were buried the day following in Princess
Pat’s Cemetery, Voormezeele, when all the section attended the funeral.
He was a splendidly brave fellow.”
[Illustration: =Joseph Moffat Peacock.=]
=PEAKE, CECIL GERALD WYATT=, Capt., 2nd Battn. Lincolnshire Regt.,
2nd _s._ of Henry Arthur Peake, of Westholme, Sleaford, co.
Lincoln, Solicitor, by his wife, Alice Anne, dau. of the Rev. John I.
Penford Wyatt; _b._ Sleaford, 21 Nov. 1891; educ. Aysgarth School,
Charterhouse, and Trinity Hall, Cambridge; gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the
Lincolnshire Regt., 19 Jan. 1912; promoted Lieut. 28 May, 1913. and
Capt. 21 Dec. 1914; served in Bermuda, Dec. 1913 to Sept. 1914, and
with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 8 Nov. 1914
to March, 1915, on which date he was killed in action at the Battle of
Neuve Chapelle, being among the first of the Lincolnshires to enter the
enemy’s trenches; _unm._ Buried in an orchard at Masselot. Capt.
Peake was mentioned in Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 31 May
[London Gazette, 22 June], 1915. While at Oxford he gained his oar for
rowing, and also took a 2nd in Law for his B.A. degree.
[Illustration: =Cecil G. W. Peake=]
=PEAKE, COLIN=, Lieut., Leicestershire Yeomanry (T.F.), elder
_s._ of Ronald Peake, of Howard House, Ashtead, co. Surrey,
Solicitor, by his wife, Florence, dau. of the late Edward Adams;
_b._ Ashtead, 28 Sept. 1889; educ. Fonthill, East Grinstead, and
Charterhouse; admitted a Solicitor in 1913; joined the Leicestershire
Yeomanry as 2nd Lieut., 23 April, 1909, being promoted Lieut. 1 April,
1911; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in Aug.
1914; went to France with his regt. in Nov.; took part in the fighting
in France and Flanders, during the winter of 1914–15, and was killed in
action in an advance trench near Ypres, 13 May, 1915; _unm._
[Illustration: =Colin Peake.=]
=PEARCE, ALFRED=, Driver, No. 35452, Royal Field Artillery, yst.
_s._ of Nathan Pearce, of 21, Sunnyside, Diss, co. Norfolk,
Farm Labourer; _b._ Thrandeston, Diss, 18 Aug. 1885; educ.
there; enlisted in the R.F.A. in Oct. 1907; served six years with the
colours, then passed into the Reserve, and was engaged as a Dairyman
at Chigwell, Essex; mobilised 5 Aug. 1914; went to France in Aug.,
and died in the Lycée Pasteur, Neuilly, 28 Sept. following, of wounds
received in action during the Battle of the Aisne. He _m._ at
Chelmsford, Jan. 1914, Grace, dau. of (--) Bradley; _s.p._
[Illustration: =Alfred Pearce.=]
=PEARCE, DUDLEY HOGARTH=, L.-Corpl., No. 2162, Royal
Gloucestershire Hussars (Yeomanry), _s._ of Henry Pearce, of
Elberton, Tockington, co. Gloucester, by his wife, Eliza Jane Sarah,
dau. of the late Charles Smith, of Max House, Winscombe, co. Somerset;
_b._ Winford, co. Somerset, 13 Oct. 1884; educ. Thornbury Grammar
School; joined the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars on the outbreak of war
in Aug. 1914; trained at Newbury and Heacham; left for the Dardanelles,
15 April, 1915; was promoted Corpl. for his bravery and coolness during
the charge of the Yeomanry on Chocolate Hill, 22 Aug. following, and
was killed in action there at 5.30 a.m. on the 28th, while cooking his
comrades’ breakfast; _unm._ Buried to the west of Chocolate Hill.
His brother, Trooper Edward Charles Henry Pearce, was killed in action
at Quinn’s Post, 7 Aug. 1915 (see following notice). L.-Corpl. Dudley
Pearce was always called the father of the troop, for his great thought
and kindness.
[Illustration: =Dudley Hogarth Pearce.=]
=PEARCE, EDWARD CHARLES HENRY=, Trooper, No. 190, 2nd Australian
Light Horse, Australian Imperial Force, _s._ of Henry Pearce, of
Elberton, Tockington, co. Gloucester, by his wife, Eliza Jane Sarah,
dau. of the late Charles Smith, of Max House, Winscombe, co. Somerset;
_b._ Winford, co. Somerset, 26 Jan. 1883; educ. Thornbury Grammar
School; served for three years in the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars;
went to Australia in 1910 and was farming at Roma, Queensland, when
war broke out; was one of the first men in that district to volunteer
for Imperial service; joined the 2nd Light Horse, Australian Imperial
Force; left for Egypt the end of Oct., where he completed his training;
went to the Dardanelles; took part in the famous landing of the
Australians there, 25–26 April, 1915, and was killed in action at
Quinn’s Post, 7 Aug. following; _unm._ A comrade wrote: “He was
one of the best chaps; he died as he had lived, an English gentleman to
the last.” His brother, L.-Corpl. Dudley Hogarth Pearce, was killed in
action at Chocolate Hill, 28 Aug. 1915 (see preceding notice).
[Illustration: =Edward C. H. Pearce.=]
=PEARCE, HARRY CECIL=, A.B., J. 896, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when
that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5
Sept. 1914.
=PEARCE, JOHN ALBERT=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 6098), 201703 (Chatham),
H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1
Nov. 1914.
=PEARCEY, ALFRED STEPHEN=, Private, R.M.L.I., Po. 12774, H.M.S.
Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov.
1914.
=PEARCE, GEOFFREY VINCENT=, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Royal
Warwickshire Regt., only _s._ of Sir William Pearce, of Shepway
Lodge, Walmer, co. Kent, M.P., J.P., by his wife, Ethel Alexandra, dau.
of Edwin Neane, of Harefield, Sidling, co. Kent; _b._ Brentwood,
co. Essex, 19 June, 1889; educ. Uppingham School, where he was a Sergt.
in the School Corps; was a Chemical Manufacturer (Spencer, Chapman &
Messel, Ltd.); joined the Artists’ Rifles in 1911; volunteered for
foreign service on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; went to France
with the Artists’ Rifles, Oct. 1914; was gazetted 2nd Lieut. Royal
Warwicks, ... Nov. 1914, and was killed in action 18 Dec., during
an attack on the German trenches at Rouges Bancs, south-east of
Armentières, and buried by the enemy; _unm._
=PEARS, STUART=, Sergt., No. 974, 14th Battn. (London Scottish)
The London Regt. (T.F.); twin _s._ of Ernest Pears, of 69,
Palace Road, Streatham Hill. S.W., Fellow of Chartered Institute of
Secretaries, by his wife, Gertrude, dau. of John Campbell; _b._
Dulwich, 29 Oct. 1891; educ. Streatham Grammar School; was a Marine
Insurance Clerk at Lloyds; joined the London Scottish in Nov. 1908;
volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914;
went to France, Sept. 1914, and was killed in action in the trenches at
Givenchy, 22 Dec. 1914, being shot by a sniper; _unm._ Buried in
the churchyard there.
=PEARSON, FREDERICK PHILLIPS=, Corpl., No 2881, 6th Battn. South
Staffordshire Regt. (T.F.), yst. _s._ of Edward Pearson, of
Whitchurch, co. Salop, formerly of Waterloo, Liverpool, retired Draper,
by his wife, Maria, dau. of the late Thomas Phillips, of Chelmsford,
Essex; _b._ Liverpool, 11 May, 1880; educ. Merchant Taylors’
School, Great Crosby, and on leaving entered the service of the
National and Provincial Bank of England, and was stationed at Chester.
He there joined the 2nd Volunteer Battn. of the Cheshire Regt., and
on the outbreak of the South African War in 1899, volunteered and
served with the 1st Volunteer Coy. of that Regt., in that campaign,
and was awarded the Queen’s medal with three clasps. On the outbreak
of the European War he was Cashier at the Wolverhampton branch of the
National and Provincial Bank, and again volunteered for active service;
joined the 6th (Territorial) Battn. South Staffordshire Regt. in Sept.
1914; went to the Front in March, 1915, and was killed in action near
Zillebeke, 7 July, 1915; _unm._ Buried in Sanctuary Wood. His
Lieut. wrote: “A shell came over which did not explode but crashed in a
dug-out burying two men, one of whom was lying in the débris wounded.
Pearson and another man at once got to work to dig them out, and had
just succeeded when another shell came over, and a bit struck Pearson
on the head. I took him up myself, but all to no purpose, he was hit
badly. We all recognised his position, and others like him nobly served
their country by joining in the ranks. He was actually killed in trying
to save the life of other men, which I take it is the greatest thing a
man can do. On all sides one hears the men talking about him, and there
is no doubt he is a loss to the Regt.”
[Illustration: =Frederick P. Pearson.=]
=PEARSON, SYDNEY JOHN=, Rifleman, No. 3584, 2/9th Battn. (Queen
Victoria’s Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of the late
John Pearson, of St. Neots, by his wife, Alice, dau. of George Cramley,
of Sandy, Beds; _b._ St. Neots, co. Huntingdon, 21 June, 1887;
educ. Sandy, co. Beds, and Downshall, co. Essex, and held a responsible
position in an Ironmongery business at Ilford, which he gave up
after the outbreak of war and joined Queen Victoria’s Rifles, 4 Nov.
following; went to France, 12 Feb. 1915, and was killed in action at
Hill 60, during the Second Battle of Ypres, 21 April, 1915; _unm._
Buried at Ypres behind the firing line.
=PEARSON, WILLIAM RANSOME=, L.-Sergt., No. 7366, 1st Battn.
Coldstream Guards, only _s._ of William Pearson, of 24, Ashford
Road, East Ham, Essex, formerly Colour-Sergt. 1st Battn. Coldstream
Guards (served through the Nile Expedition for the relief of General
Gordon, 1884–85; wounded at the Battle of Abu-Klea, 17 Jan. 1885;
awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal for service in the field), by his
wife, Sophia, dau. of Samuel Ransome, of Sherborne, King’s Lynn, co.
Norfolk; _b._ St George’s Barracks, Trafalgar Square, London, 16
Oct. 1892; educ. Sandringham Road (Forest Gate) and Monega (E.) Council
Schools; enlisted in the Coldstreams as a Drummer Boy, 27 July, 1907;
joined the ranks, 6 June, 1912; appointed L.-Corpl. the same day;
promoted Corpl., 24 May, 1914; appointed L.-Sergt., 7 Aug. 1914; went
to France with the Expeditionary Force; served through the retreat from
Mons; was wounded in action and taken prisoner during the Battle of the
Aisne, 14 Sept., and died a prisoner of war in the Fortress Hospital,
Wesel, Germany, 24 Dec. 1914; _unm._ His Company Officer, Capt.
Saint A. Warde-Aldam, wrote: “On 14 Sept. we had a hard fight; the
first brigade (in which we are) attacked between two villages called
Vendresse and Cerny near the Aisne; we captured a good deal of ground
but were not able to hold all we had taken, and consequently a large
number of casualties were left on ground afterwards re-occupied by the
Germans. I am afraid your son was one of them. I knew your son well,
having trained with him at Aldershot, but I cannot remember definitely
seeing him myself on the 14th. He was a very promising young sergt.
and was a great loss to the company.... Whatever has happened to your
son, I am quite confident he did his duty and upheld our old Coldstream
traditions.” He himself wrote to his parents from the Festungshazarett,
Wesel, about 30 Nov. 1914: “I was shot in the right thigh, and lay
where I fell for a whole week. I don’t know how I lived it through, but
I did. On the morning of the 21st some German stretcher-bearers picked
me up and took me to hospital where they dressed the leg, which, of
course, was broken. I have been shifted from one show to another till
I’ve landed here, and here I shall be for two or three months.”
[Illustration: =William Ransome Pearson.=]
=PEART, GEORGE=, Seaman, R.N.R., 5332A, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in
action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.