PEARSON, Charles

Charles Pearson was the son of Mr and Mrs Dudley Pearson of 4 Coffee House Row, High Street, Brierley Hill. Dudley Pearson was a horse driver for the District Council. Charles volunteered for the Worcester Territorials and joined the 1/7th Battalion which went to the Western Front in April 1915. They were much involved in fighting on the Somme in 1916, starting with the attack on Ovillers on the 10th July. They remained on the spur above the village and eventually succeeded in capturing Thiepval village on the 26th September. In 1917 they followed up the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line and were responsible for the taking the Mound at Templeux-Guerard and nearby Guillemont farm. Then came a move to the Third Battle of Ypres for the Battle of Langemarck on the 16th August. After a month behind the lines they made a diversionary attack on various block-houses on the Steenbeck to coincide with 9th October Battle of Poelcapelle. In dreadful conditions the Worcesters suffered heavily with 230 casualties. Among the killed in action was Private Charles Pearson. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot, Brierley Hill and Brierley Hill church Memorials. Two of his brothers, Dudley and Harry, also died in the war.