Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
Robert was born early in 1896 at Sheriff Hill.
He married his sweetheart, Catherine Hughes, in 1913.
He enlisted into the army at South Ashford, Kent where he eventually served with the British Expeditionary Forces in France.
The war diary shows that at 2.30pm, whilst fighting in the trenches, heavy artillery fire continued all day. His officer reported ‘we retaliated with heavies’ but the enemy continued fighting. At 4.15pm 35 of our aeroplanes flew over our lines from the enemy lines. Within 15 minutes the enemy ceased firing. Severe damage had resulted during the melee including breached parapets in a number of places.
Unfortunately, it is noted that several men had been hurt ie 5 killed and 14 wounded, probably Robert was amongst them.
Robert is buried in a small cemetery at Brewery Orchard near Armentieres holding only 344 casualties.
Medals :- British War Medal and Victory Medal
Robert William Pearson is remembered at Gateshead in G39.004 and at Gateshead Fell on G39.064
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 26
