Judy Davies, great niece, has supplied the following from Tamworth in the North West of New South Wales.
Captain Robert William Pearson is my great Uncle. I am the daughter of Richard Carden Mitchell Pearson the eldest son of Henry Carden Pearson.
Great Uncle Robert was born in Whitchurch Shropshire then the family moved to Darlington where my grandfather was a surgeon. He joined the territorial army and was a freemason as you know. He was an analytical chemist. His name is in the memorial room at the Memorial Hospital in Darlington. – I have visited that on one of my rare visits back to the UK.
I do have the details of the battle in which my uncle was killed.
Uncle Robert was married to Mary von Bergan on 27th June 1911 but alas she died on 29th May 1912. They were married at St Cuthbert’s church Darlington – where I was christened.
By absolute chance I have located his plaque and scroll. I did not know such things existed – I am actually half Irish and the family always says that weird things happen to me. I am presently trying to persuade someone to sell it back to the family – not sure that I am going to be successful. Do hope so. I don’t have his medals – no one seems to know where they are – my father would have had them if they had still been in the family and I know that he did not as he came out to Australia and I cleared up that house. I actually bought some medals from E Bay , they belonged to an R.P. Shepherd – Durham Light Infantry. In Australia we commemorate ANZAC day April 25th. There are big marches of all the serving forces and all returned soldiers march in civvies or are driven in jeeps. School children march wearing the medals of an ancestor. This is greatly encouraged so that that frightful debacle is never forgotten. Every town has a dawn service – to which I go and everyone wears the medals in respect of an Uncle, Grandad etc that has fought for their country.
I have the family tree – Dad made me the guardian of it – it was done by Richard Pearson, Robert’s father.
If you have any information on my great uncle I would be so pleased to have it.
W. Bro. Revd. David T. Youngson, PPAG Chaplain, Northumberland has submitted the following:
The information given below in respect of some of the brethren is the best possible conclusions from Lodge records, Grand Lodge records & Commonwealth War Graves Commission
1379 Marquis of Ripon Lodge
Year of Warrant 1871
Freemasons Hall, Darlington
Captain Robert William PEARSON
Durham Light Infantry 5th Battalion
The son of Richard and Anne Pearson he was an Analytical Chemist who was Initiated on the 5th March 1908 when his brother Dr Henry Pearson M.D. C.M. F.R.C.S. (Edinburgh) was Worshipful Master; Passed 2nd April 1908 and Raised on the 4th June 1908 and was the Senior Deacon of his Lodge. He was killed in action on the 15th May 1915 aged 34. He is buried at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Belgium, Grave Reference IX.H.36.
Editor’s Note:
Extract from the Lodge Minutes from June 1915
“The sympathy of the Lodge was extended to W. Bro H.C. Pearson and his near relations upon the death of his brother, Bro R.W. Pearson (SD) of the Lodge whilst serving at the front with His Majesty’s Forces in France on 15th May 1915. W. Bro Putnam expressed the feeling of all the brethren when he said the SD was highly esteemed for his noble character and liked for his sociable disposition. That the Lodge had lost a good officer and though the loss is great, it was a satisfaction to know that he died a noble death fighting for his country as an example of a just cause.”
Robert William Pearson is remembered at Darlington on D40.034
