| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Jim was born in Beverley in 1895, one of twelve children born to William Pearson (1867-1944) and his wife, Mary Jane, born in Dover in 1867. William, a tanner's labourer, had served in the regular army; and Mary came from an army family. Jim was brought up at 20 Cherry Tree Terrace and then 160 Norwood. Jim worked in the glue works at Hodgson's tannery. He was unmarried.
Jim joined the army and served as a private in the 9th Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment, part of 11th Division. They sailed from Liverpool on 3 Jul 1915 for Gallipoli. The 9th landed at Suvla Bay on the mountainous peninsula on 6 Aug 1915. Turkish resistance brought heavy casualties, including the death of Jim on 9 Aug 1915 at the age of 20. His body was not recovered, and he is remembered on the Helles Memorial to the Missing. He was awarded the War and Victory Medals and the 1915 Star. He is remembered on the Hengate Memorial and on the East Riding Memorial in Beverley Minster.
Along with Jim's name three other members of his family are remembered on the Norwood Street Shrine in Beverley. His father William Pearson, served in the Royal Defence Corps in the war. Confined to the UK only, and consisting of ex-soldiers too old for overseas service (41 to 60), the RDC were used on guard duties at key locations such as ports, bridges and railways, as well as at prisoner of war camps. Two of Jim's brothers served in the army William Pearson, born in 1890, served as a sergeant in the 1st Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment. He was wounded on 1 Jul 1916, on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme. David Pearson, born in 1892 served as a lance-corporal in the 9th Battalion of the East Yorks, he too was wounded in France. |