Pte 22212 Charles Frederick Pearson

• Age: 21
• From: Helsby, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Charles Frederick Pearson was born on the 16th June 1895 at Helsby, Cheshire and was the son of Edward R (no evidence for a middle name) and Emily Pearson (nee Kniveton). His parents married on the 14th September 1892 at St Paul's Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Runcorn. Charlie was the eldest of their three children.   

In 1901 the family are living at 23 Victoria Road, Runcorn, with three children. His father, Edward, is a 33 year old commercial clerk, born in Stockton Heath, whilst his mother, Emily is also 33 years of age and was born in Astley, Lancashire. Charlie is 5 years old and has two siblings; Edith aged 7 also born in Helsby and Herbert K. aged 2 and born in Runcorn.

Charlie was educated at Runcorn Balfour Road County Secondary School. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at Fairholme, Greenway Road, Runcorn. His father, Edward, is aged 43, occupation recorded as a commercial clerk for an electric cable manufacturer, his mother, Emily, is also aged 43. They have been married for eighteen years and have three children, all of whom are declared on the Census; Edith aged 17, born 1894, no occupation, Charles Frederick aged 15 is a commercial clerk in a chemical works and Herbert Kniveton aged 12, born 1899 is at school.

He enlisted in Liverpool on 05th November 1914 joining in the 20^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 22212. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915, disembarking with his battalion at Boulogne.  

Charlie was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 21, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

Charlie's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His death was reported in the Runcorn Weekly News on Friday 18 August 1916; 

“Charlie Pearson, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Pearson of Greenway Road, Runcorn, who joined the 20th Batt. King’s Liverpool Regiment at the beginning of the war.  He was seriously wounded during the first week of fighting in August and laid down his life for England’s cause.”  The vicar’s tribute to Charlie read as follows:-

“From early boyhood he was a scholar in Old Brunswick with the exception of two or three years during which he lived at Frodsham.  He became an enthusiastic and devoted worker for Christ very early in life and did much for the cause of Methodism in Runcorn, and when Nelson Street required a secretary for their Sunday school he took the position, giving his time and energy for the welfare of the school.  He was also secretary for the circuit magazine and a member of my society class.  All his duties were fulfilled to the best of his ability and he has left a record for thoroughness which will be an inspiration to others. His personality was great, always cheerful, and courteous to everybody.  A devoted and loving son to his parents, and ever thoughtful of his sister and brother. His home life was exemplary, and both home, school, and church lose one of its best characters.  We all recall with sorrowful appreciation his great self-sacrifice.”

He earned his three medals.

His Army pay of £4 6s 11d and a War Gratuity of £7-10s went to his father, who was awarded a pension of 7/6d a week from December 1918.  The pension card gives the date of death (killed in action) as 30-31 July 1916.

In the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading ‘Lost At The Battle of Guillemont’ his family and fiancee paid tribute to Charles:

“In sad and loving memory of Private Charles F. Pearson, 20th K.L.R. (“Pals”), killed at Guillemont, on July 30, 1916. His duty nobly done, his crown well won. From Mother, Father, Sister, and Brother, and also his sorrowing Fiancée Florence.”  

His loved ones placed In Memoriam notices on Charlie’s birthday in June 1918:

“In loving birthday remembrance of Private C. F. Pearson, killed in action 30th July, 1916. - Florence.”

“In ever loving birthday remembrances of Private C. F. Pearson, killed in action 30th July, 1916.  From Father, Mother, Sister, and Brother (in training). - Fairholme, Greenway Road, Runcorn.  - Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away.”

On the second anniversary of his death, further notices were posted:

"In sad and loving remembrance of Private C. F. Pearson (Pals), who fell at Guillemont.

His brother Herbert enlisted in 1916, when he was 17 or 18 years old.  He served overseas with the 15th Cheshire Regiment, was transferred to the 20th Manchesters, and ended his service with the 8th Devons.

He was remembered ten years later in the Runcorn Weekly News on Friday 17 September 1926: 

St. Paul’s Wesleyan Chapel, Runcorn

Runcorn Memorial

We currently have no further information on Charles Frederick Pearson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.