William Pearson (1887-1917)

Post date: Feb 22, 2017 11:49:4 AM

William Frank was the eldest child of Frank William, an agricultural labourer, and Clara Pearson. He was born in Yalding in 1887 but by the time of the 1891 census the family had moved to Pizien Well. By 1901 the family had moved to Nettlestead, living close to Nettlestead School, and William was now at the age of 13 a Butcher's Assistant with some 6 younger sisters and one younger brother. In 1911 he married Ellen Avis Russell from Nettlestead, who had at the time of the 1911 census been working as a domestic at Nettlestead rectory.

His military service record is not available.

However, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment 1914-1919 by Captain C.T. Atkinson (page 302) records the 26th October 1917, the day of William's death near Gheluveldt, part of the Third Ypres, as the "worst day in the [1st] battalion's experiences in the war". "Those who were wounded at any distance from our line had no chance of extricating themselves from the awful mud which was the dominating feature of the day". The battalion lost 12 of 16 officers involved and 348 of 581 men.

The Commonwealth war graves Commission records his service number as G/16617 and his date of death as 26th October 1917. He is buried, one of 2,347 identified soldiers, at Hooge Crater Cemetery, 4 Kms east of Ieper (Ypres) town centre on the Meenseweg (N8), connecting Ieper to Menen. He is recorded as the husband of Ellen Avis Pearson, of 4, Glenleigh Terrace, Nettlestead, Wateringbury, Kent.