Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 26162 Henry Pearson

Age: 26
From: Liverpool
Regiment: 1st Kings
Died on Sunday 25th August 1918
Commemorated at: Bucquoy Rd Cem Ficheux
Panel Ref: VI.C.19

Henry Pearson was born in Liverpool in the March quarter of 1892, the son of Henry Pearson and his wife Sarah Ann (née Rowe) who were married on the 01st July 1878 at St. Peter’s Church, Liverpool. Henry was a 25 year old shipwright of Russell Street, father, Charles a shipwright, whilst Sarah was aged 19, same address, father, John a labourer. His father born in Newcastle on Tyne, and his mother, born in Liverpool, had eight children.

Their first child, Sarah Jane, was born in October 1877, and baptised on the day of her parents’ marriage, 1/7/1878, in the same church, St. Peter’s, Liverpool. They had seven more children: Caroline (died at age 1), Mary, Thomas (who also died at age 1), Edwin, Henry, Frederick, and Edith.

On the census before Henry’s birth, in 1891, his mother was living in court housing in Harding Street, working as a laundress. His father was not in the household, being away at sea.

Henry was baptised in St. Nathaniel, Edge Hill, on 13th March 1892, the family still in court housing in Harding Street, and his father’s occupation now listed as mechanic.

The 1901 Cenus finds the family at 11 Corlett Street, Edge Hill, with four children. His father is a packing case maker, Henry is 9.

His father died in 1902, aged 49, when Henry was about 10 years old.

By thje tiome of the 1911 Cenus the family have moved to 25 Myers Street, Edge Hill. His widowed mother, 52, is a charwoman, Henry, 19, is a van porter in a biscuit factory, Frederick, 16, is a provision shop porter, and Edith is 13, at school.

Henry enlisted in Liverpool, as Private 26162, joining the 17th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. He served for over three years, enlisting in about May 1915. Both of his brothers also served, Edwin having enlisted in the 10th K.L.R., the Liverpool Scottish, in May 1914, and Frederick in the Royal Garrison Artillery.

Henry shipped to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915. At some point he was transferred to the 1st Bn K.L.R.

In July and August 1918 the 1st K.L.R. was in the front line in the Ayette sector, about 10 miles south of Arras. A 6th Infantry Brigade order was received on the evening of 22nd August, the objective to capture the northern half of Ervillers, with the 2nd S. Staffs on the right and the 1st K.L.R. on the left. The orders for the attack were issued to Company Commanders at 3 a.m. on the 23rd.

The post operation narrative, from the battalion War Diary, records-

At 6 a.m. the battalion moved off and assembled at the Blue Line, with a frontage of 600 yards, and advanced at 10 a.m. towards the jumping off line, supported by Whippet tanks. At 11 a.m. the leading companies moved forward following a creeping barrage. The enemy retaliated in about 3 minutes. The Kings and S. Staffs captured the village of Ervillers but severe machine gun fire from the western slope of the Mory Copse - Hally Copse Ridge prevented the establishment of posts on the eastern outskirts. Enemy fire continued throughout the remaining hours of daylight.

Throughout the night of 23rd/24th strong fighting patrols were sent out to capture Mory Copse and Mory Village, but the hostile MG fire was too severe. At 4:30 a.m. orders were received to push out patrols again, as ‘no strong resistance was possible as it was known that the enemy divisions were weakened and no fresh ones were handy’. Fourteen patrols, 6-8 men strong, were pushed out along the whole front but only entailed further casualties.

Orders were received for the Kings to support an advance up the Mory Valley. Two Companies raced forward in two waves 100 yards apart, passing over a battery of guns. After a momentary pause to gain breath the line advanced again, but suffered heavy shelling and MG fire coming from the east end of Mory Village. To remain in place or move eastwards both meant annihilation as the enemy MG fire was unnerving and the morale of the men was suffering. The decision was made to chance a flank move and wheel sharp left, sweeping up the hillside at racing speed. The men, lightly equipped, and even though thoroughly worn out, responded magnificently and, with cheers of “Kings” tore across the railway lines and into a shallow trench. Many were being hit by MG fire. A tank was sent up in support, the line waited until she was within 10 yards then rose and swept forward in Mory Copse. The tank not only prevented many casualties, but the effect on the men’s morale was decisive. Within 30 minutes there was a strong garrison from several units installed in Mory Copse. That night, the 24th/25th August, the King’s were withdrawn.

Casualties in these two days’ operations:

16 Officers and 270 O.R.

4 Officers and 257 men came out unwounded.

Henry was killed in action, such was the ferocity of the fighting that his death is recorded as occurring between 23rd and 25th August 1918. He was aged 26.

He now rests at Bucquoy Road Cemetery where his headstone bears the poignant epitaph:

"NONE KNOW THE DEPTH OF OUR REGRET BUT WE REMEMBER AND SHALL NEVER FORGET".

In November 1916, the village of Ficheux was behind the German front line, but by April 1917, the German withdrawal had taken the line considerably east of the village and in April and May, the VII Corps Main Dressing Station was posted near for the Battles of Arras. It was followed by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, which remained at Boisleux-au-Mont until March 1918, and continued to use the Bucquoy Road Cemetery begun by the field ambulances. From early April to early August 1918 the cemetery was not used but in September and October, the 22nd, 30th and 33rd Casualty Clearing Stations came to Boisleux-au-Mont and extended it. By the date of the Armistice, it contained 1,166 burials but was greatly increased when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields and from small cemeteries in the neighbourhood.

The cemetery now contains 1,901 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 168 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 23 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate 21 casualties buried by their comrades in Henin-sur-Cojeul German Cemetery, whose graves could not be found on concentration.

The cemetery was used again in May 1940 for the burial of troops killed during the German advance. There are 136 burials and commemorations of the Second World War; 26 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate 39 soldiers whose graves in the cemetery could not be specifically located.

His death was reported in the Crosby Herald of 28th September 1918;

His death was also reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on 25th September 1918;

“The death in action on August 25th of Pte. Henry Pearson, K.L.R., has been officially reported. He had been on active service since November 1915, proceeding overseas with the first Pals. His officer, writing to his mother, who lived at 15, Edge-vale, Liverpool says: ‘He was a good soldier, not knowing what fear was.’"

His mother Sarah received Henry’s Army effects, Army Pay of £14 7s 3d and a War Gratuity of £15. It is not clear from the pension card whether she was awarded a pension.

Henry earned his three medals.

His older brother Edwin was discharged in September 1918 with a Silver War Badge (sickness) and a disability pension.

Younger brother Frederick later served in the Hampshire Regiment and the Labour Corps, and was discharged in December 1919, also with a disability pension (sickness).

In 1939 his mother Sarah, then 81, was still living at 15 Edge Vale, with married daughter Edith and her family.

Sarah died in 1943, aged 84.

Henry is commemorated on the following memorials -

St. Nathaniel Church and Parish Memorial

Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance Panel 52.

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

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(108 Years this day)
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L/Cpl 29203 Valentine Alexander
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Tuesday 30th April 1918.
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Tuesday 30th April 1918.
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(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 23056 John William Jones
27 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 49572 John Henry Leadbeater (MM)
27 years old

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
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(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51712 Edgar Domenico Murray
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(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
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A total of 14 Pals were killed on this day. View All