Pte 15765 John Roland Pearson

• Age: 34
• From: Northallerton, Yorks
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: St Sever Cem, Rouen
  Panel Ref: A.21.43

John Roland Pearson was the eldest of three children born in the first quarter of 1882 Northallerton, Yorkshire  to John, a self-employed butcher born in Romanby, Yorkshire, and his wife Margaret (nee Hood) who were married on the 13th Sept 1881 at St Margaret’s, Brotton, York. 

In 1891 they live in Romanby Road, Northallerton.

The father John aged 39, is a butcher born in Romanby, mother Margaret aged 39was born in Constable Burton, Yorks, their children John R. aged 9 a scholar, Harry aged 5 a scholar, Harriet N. aged 3 were born in Northallerton. they also have a servant Mary A. Marsden aged 15.  

In 1901 John & Margaret live with their daughter, Harriet Norah, at Ayton House, Romanby Road, while John Roland, a grocer’s assistant born in Northallerton is a boarder at Windycote, Marine Parade, Heysham.

In 1911, John, Margaret and their daughter live at 3 Arncliffe Terrace, Northallerton, while John Roland is shown as a boarder at 46 Crossley Terrace, Newcastle on Tyne. 

On 31^st August 1914, John Roland enlisted at Liverpool, giving his age as 30 years 6 months and his occupation as commercial traveller - perhaps in the grocery trade which might explain why he lived away from the family home. On enlistment he declared that he had served as a volunteer in the Royal Garrison Artillery and gave his next of kin as his father, 3 Arncliffe Terrace, Romanby Road, Northallerton. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915, earning all three medals and on 22^nd December 1915 was admitted to hospital at Rouens suffering from contagious impetigo. On 27^th January 1916 he joined 30^th Division at Etaples and on 25^th February joined 2^nd Engineering Battalion.

On 29^th May 1916 he rejoined the 17^th Battalion and on 27^th June 1916, together with Private 15470 J. S. Riding  was wounded by German counter-bombardment on front line trenches at Maricourt. He was admitted to 96^th Field Ambulance and thence to 21 Casualty Clearance Station and finally 12 General Hospital, Rouen, suffering from a gunshot wound to his right shoulder and shellshock. On 30^th June 1916, the OC, 12 General Hospital informed the War Office by telegram that John was dangerously ill suffering from shellshock, a wound to his shoulder and paraplegia, and asking that his relatives be informed. On 1^st July 1916, the War Office informed Preston Records by telegram that John had died, aged 34, and asked that relatives be informed.  The next day, John was buried in St Sever Cemetery, Rouen in what was said to be Grave 2198, with a service conducted by Reverend J. D. Hepple. The CWGC record that John is buried in Grave A21 43 in St Sever Cemetery.

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross, one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.The adjoining cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here.

The Commonwealth plots were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Reported Died of Wounds in the North Star(Darlington) on the 17th July 1916 

DIED OF WOUNDS 

KING’S LIVERPOOL REGIMENT 

Pearson, 15765, J. R. (Northallerton); 

Soldiers Effects to father John, Pension to mother Margaret, 3 Arncliffe Terrace. 

Probate 1916:- 

PEARSON John Roland of 31 Colebrook Road, Aigburth Liverpool private 17th Battalion King’s Liverpool regiment died 1 July 1916 at the Hospital Rouen France on active service Probate London 4 September to John Pearson retired butcher. Effects £435 0s 4d. 

The family grave in Northallerton Cemetery reads:- 

In loving memory of  

Margaret Pearson  

Died 4th April 1930 aged 78 years  

And her beloved husband  

John Pearson 

Died 19th January 1937 aged 84 years   

His effects were sent to his father c/o G & J. E. Gardiner, solicitors, of Northallerton and on 8^th May 1919, John’s father acknowledged receipt of his son’s medals. In a sworn declaration dated 12^th July 1919, his father stated that John was survived by his parents and his sister, Hattie Norah Foggin. Ther is no mention of John’s younger brother, Harry, born in 1886. In fact, Harry had joined the Royal Naval Reserve and was serving on HM Submarine 10 as an Engineroom Artificer Number 1511, when he was killed, presumably drowned, on 19^th January 1918. Harry was the husband of Amelia and they lived at 18 Newcomen Street, Redcar. Harry is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

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