1353, Private William PEARSON — 4th Light Dragoons

Birth & early life

Born in Penrith, Cumberland, on the 2nd of October 1826, the son of John and Sarah Pearson of Townhead Parish, and christened in St. Andrew's Church on the 12th of November of that year.

In 1954 a near-relative, a Mrs Jenkinson of Tirrell Moor, then aged 85 years, spoke to a reporter from the Penrith Observer. Her grandfather, John Brown, had married a Miss Misson, whose sister eventually became the mother of William Pearson's father, John.

William was an only son, she said, and had run away to join the Army. She recalled that in later years he was very reluctant to talk about his experiences.

She added that she had an uncle, Thomas Brown, who was also in the Charge, but he was not one of those who returned. She said he was William's cousin.

(The only man of this name known to have ridden in the Charge was 714 Thomas Brown of the 17th Lancers who was taken prisoner of war, and died in captivity. Although Thomas Brown was born in Newcastle, it is not impossible that they were indeed related.)

Enlistment

Enlisted by Corporal Edward Redding at Westminster on the 21st of February 1848.

Age: 21.

Height: 5' 8".

Trade: Leather-dresser.

Appearance: Fresh complexion. Hazel eyes. Brown hair.

Another native of Penrith, one James Smith (born 1828), had been at school with William Pearson, and in 1845 joined the 1st Life Guards. He later said that a couple of years after joining up he had met up again with Pearson who had come to London seeking work. Smith sent him to see Colonel the Hon. Cecil Lowther of the 7th Hussars, a veteran of the Peninsular War, who had served under Sir John Moore in the famous retreat at Corunna in 1809.

A man with Westmerian [PB:?] connections, Colonel Lowther was later responsible for the raising of the Westmoreland and Cumberland Yeomanry (possibly the reason why Pearson himself served later in this). It was apparently with his help that William Pearson had joined the 4th Light Dragoons.

Service

Wendy Leahy / http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/williampearsonletters1.html / Letters written from The Crimea to his parents / by Private William Pearson / with commentaries and additional news / by the various newspapers which published them

Kendal Mercury, 2 September 1854:

A Penrithian at Varna

William Pearson, a Penrith youth, belonging to 'The Queen's own Light Dragoons,' writing from Varna to his mother, under date of the 14th ult., says -

'We are now in camp on the plains of Varna, close to the sea-side. We do not know the hour we may be called away to storm the city of Sebastopol. It is generally thought it can be very easily taken; and we are all very anxious to have a slap at them as soon as possible, and then get back to old England again. We are not any of us afraid of facing the Russians; but I am sorry to say that the cholera is very bad, and that many both of ours and the French soldiers have died of it, but I am happy to say that I have escaped so far, and trust I shall do so.

There is a young man here in the 6th Dragoons from Pooley; his name is Currie (His father lives with Captain Hamilton). We are four miles from the town of Varna, across the water. When I was on guard on Thursday, there was a fire broke out, and it is burning yet. Half of the town is burned down; and the worst of it is, some of our stores are burned where the bread and biscuit is kept. All the powder and ball is got away safe; but a great deal of our horses' hay and corn is destroyed. There have been several parties taken up. The Greeks are suspected to have done it on purpose to destroy what the English and French soldiers had to live on, and the ammunition we have to fight with. God be thanked, they have not hurt us much!'

We heartily wish this brave young fellow a speedy and happy return victorious from the wars.

Kendal Mercury, 18th of November 1854:

"Private letter from a Penrith lad at the Seat of War"

"Camp near Sebastopol, 26th of October 1854.

My dear Parents,

I take the pleasure (having stolen a few moments) to write these few lines to inform you that I am, God be thanked for it, enjoying good health after being engaged in a hard-fought battle with the Russians on the 25th of October 1854. I am however, sorry to say that a great many of my poor comrades met their death, but in an heroic manner. The Light Dragoon regiments had a dreadful cutting-up, amongst which was my regiment, the 17th Lancers, 8th Hussars, the 13th Light Dragoons and the 11th Hussars. Of the five regiments just mentioned we have barely enough to complete our regiment.

My regiment, the 4th Light Dragoons, came out from England 300 strong and we have not more than 100 left from deaths by sickness and killed in battle. However, what are left of us are all very thankful indeed that we have been so fortunate after all the great hardships we have undergone since we left Old England. Oh, how thankful I am, dear parents.

I am sorry I have not much time left now for more as we expect to go out and attack the enemy, who are in sight of us. We gave them a great slaughtering yesterday and at day-break this morning our big guns were slaughtering at Sebastopol, which has been the same for the last twelve days. A great many of the Russian artillery soldiers, together with a large number of the townspeople, have been killed and the town set on fire.

Dear Mother, do not alarm yourself about me. I have a good opinion I shall see you all again. I shall never forget the 25th of October, — shells, bullets, cannon-balls and swords, all flying about us. I escaped them all except a slight scar on my nose from the bursting of a shell, and the slightest touch on the shoulder from a cannon-ball, after it had killed one of our horses, but God be thanked, it did not disable me. The Russians fight hard and well, but we will disable them yet.

Dear Mother, every time I think of my dear comrades it makes my blood run cold to think how we had to gallop over the poor wounded fellows lying on the battle-field, with anxious looks for assistance. — what a sickening scene. In one part of the battle I lost my horse, owing to the one in front of it being shot dead and my poor horse fell over it and I was un-horsed; in getting up my horse then took fright and ran away from me, but fortunately I saw another horse that some poor fellow of the 8th Hussars had just been killed from; I mounted it in a moment and was soon back in the ranks again.

On our return from the charge I got my own horse back again. He had returned to the camp, and I am sure was as pleased to see me as I was to see him... [Several words are illegible here owing to the fold in the paper but would appear to refer to a letter he had written home after the battle of the Alma.]

I hope to hear from you all again soon and when I do return to Old England's shores, if God spares me I will tell you all. Corey, from Poppy Bridge, and Bob Mitchell of Penrith Town Head are both well — I often think of you all and I am sure you pray daily for my safe return. Tell _____ to write to me. I will write again, but it is hard work to get stamps and paper. When I wrote to ____ after the battle of the Alma, we had lost only two men but in this battle we have lost the better half. But I keep in good heart; we have hitherto thrashed the Russians and we shall do it again. Britons never shall be slaves. Give my respects to Mrs. Corey.

Write soon and address as before.

I am,

My dear parents,

Your affectionate son,

William Pearson."

Carlisle Journal, Friday 6 April 1855:

Letter from a Private of the 4th Light Dragoons -

The following is the copy of a letter from a Penrith lad in the 4th Light Dragoons, at the Camp before Sebastopol. Some time ago we published a letter from this same soldier, written soon after the Light Cavalry charge at Balaklava, in which he took a prominent part.

Camp before Sebastopol, March 1st, 1855.

Dear Parents,

I once more take the opportunity and pleasure of writing to you, but I am afraid you will have thought me very unkind in being so long in writing, but you will, I am sure, excuse me when I inform you of what has happened to me; but before I tell you, I pray of you not to think too much about it, or allow it to hurt your feelings. Well, on Christmas Eve I was on outpost duty with a party of my comrades and infantry men. It came on a very stormy night, and of course bad for outpost duty. The rain came down in torrents till three o'clock in the morning, after which it changed to a sharp frost, and, what was still worse, we had no shelter. I was drench with wet to the skin, and in this state my clothes were frozen to my back, and when I came off duty I was seized with a severe fit of fever and diarrhoea.

I was brought to the hospital on Christmas Day, on a stretcher, by four of my comrades, and in coming along I heard one of them say, 'I think poor Bill is done for.' They uncovered my face to see if I was dead, and they appeared to have an opinion I would not live till they got me to the hospital. But, dear mother, the Lord has been merciful to me and spared me so far, and I am now getting quite strong again, I am thankful.

I have a little more unfortunate information to give you. The first six days I was in the hospital I had hot stones put to my feet to warm them; and one day, when getting a little heat into them, my right foot turned quite black, and unfortunately I have lost four of my toes from that foot. I am still in the hospital. It is not our own; it belongs to the Artillery, and I expect every day to be removed from it to Constantinople, or some other sick quarters.

We have been dreadful badly situated till the last fortnight, up till which time we had only canvass tents for the sick and dying men. Very often in the mornings we have found ourselves drifted up with the snow; but now we are better off, being in wood huts, which have been erected for the sick.

Dear parents, I must not grumble, for I am fast recovering. I have seen a great many of my poor comrades brought in here sick and apparently not half so bad as I was, die. I ought, then, to be very thankful to God for his merciful kindness to me, and I am truly so.

Dear mother, perhaps I will rather surprise you when I tell you that the doctor told me yesterday I would have to be sent home to England to be discharged, as he thought I would not be able to hold my foot in the stirrup again; so, if that be the case, it will not be long before I am at home again with you. I have myself been thinking that I will not be able to soldier any more. I regret this, as I should like much to have seen the end of the war; but it us perhaps all for the best, as I have had many narrow escapes during the siege.

Dear mother, I cannot say much more at present: I am getting tired, as I am not very strong yet. I was not able to write till now, but as soon as I get from here I will write and give you full particulars of what has taken place.

Give my kind love to John Bewley, and tell him I am sorry that I am not able to answer his kind letter, but that I hope soon to be in a position to thank him personally. Give my kind love to Greenbanks and Agnes, and all enquiring friends, and tell than that I am in good spirits and have good hopes for the future. I am sorry to say that a young man belonging to the Artillery, named Brunskill, from Bampton, near Penrith, died in the hospital this morning. The war is going on much the same as heretofore. The Russians keep firing away at the English and the French, and they do the same to them, and at times make sad havoc.

Dear mother, I had not a chance of posting this letter till to-day, the 13th March, and I expected to have been at Constantinople by this time, but I am here yet, and am improving daily in health. Dear mother, you would often be afraid I would be wounded, but I have in this respect been most fortunate; and I hope, by the will of God, to be landed safe at home soon. I am much obliged to you for your kind promises to me, and now conclude.

I am, my dear parents, your affectionate son,

William Pearson.

Sent to Scutari on the 15th of April 1855 and invalided to England aboard the "Black Prince" on the 19th of May. He was at the Chatham Invalid Depot from the 12th of June.

Kendal Mercury, 2 June 1855:

Pearson, the Light Dragoon

This brave young soldier, several of whose letters have appeared in the local papers, and one of which was the foundation of an article in Blackwood's Magazine, has left Scutari, on his return to England, to be discharged as no longer fit for service.

Kendal Mercury, 2 June 1855

Pearson, the Light Dragoon

A letter, of which the following is a copy, has recently been received from William Pearson by his parents in Penrith.

Dear parents,

I once more (in this country) take the pleasure of writing to you. Since I wrote last I have been removed to Scutari from the Crimea. I came here on the 20th of April, and when I left the camp I wrote I was coming to England, but we were left here, and yesterday there was a board of doctor examined me and several more of my poor comrades who had been wounded. We expected to have left here this week, as they have returned us not fit for service; so, dear parents, I hope to be in Old England this month if God spares me so long.

Since I wrote last I have had another attack of fever, but I am thankful to say I am getting quite well again, but I am a little lame yet from the loss of my toes.

Dear parents, I have nothing particular to inform you of. Sebastopol is still standing, and the Russians fight hard yet, but it is thought that they will soon have to since another tune, as they are trying every dodge to make them fly from the Crimea or be killed. There are a great many killed every night. They wont come on fair ground and fight by day but they creep out at night in great tribes, and think to drop on our poor English and French soldiers, but they generally get the worst of it.

Dear parents, I suppose this will be the last time I will write to you from this part of the world, but if I get safe to England I will write the first opportunity, and let you know what takes place. I am told I will be discharged by the doctors and I think I will myself, as I have lost four toes; but I will give you every information when I reach the old shore, as I hope I will safe. Give my love to my Grandfather, Agnes and Wm. Greenbanks, all my relatives, and every body in the little town. Dear mother and father I will conclude this in hopes of seeing you soon, as I am not able to fight for my country at present. Good by at present.

I remain your affectionate son,

William Pearson

4th Light Dragoons

At present in Turkey but hopes to be in the old country soon.

Kendal Mercury, 23 June 1855:

Pearson, the Light Dragoon

As considerable interest has from time to time been excited by a large portion of your readers for the welfare of W. Pearson, 4th Light Dragoons, for his heroic conduct at the seat of war, he having been engaged at all the battles, including the gallant but fatal cavalry charge at Balaklava, where all the chivalrous deeds of arms of Agincourt and Cressy were thrown into the shade by the brave and heroic conduct of the Light Cavalry Brigade, and for the many graphic letters he has written, and which have appeared in the Mercury; but in none of which, though he has been nearly frozen to death in the trenches, having been conveyed to the hospital by his comrades, as they thought, in a dying state, did he even breathe the least complaint against any party. This proves him a soldier under complete discipline. After having undergone all the fatigues and privations of the campaign last year, and during the past winter, he has just arrived at Chatham, from whence his father has received the following letter:

St. Mary's Barracks, Chatham, June 16, 1855.

Dear father and mother,

It is with great pleasure I write to you once more in Old England. I landed on Wednesday last at Portsmouth, and am waiting here to go before the Board of Doctors. I think I am likely to be discharged; but, perhaps, it may not be for two or three months yet: but I will let you know more about it in my next letter. I hope to hear from you by return of post, and mind you let me know how you are all getting on at Penrith.

Dear parents, I hope this will find you both well in health, as, thank God, this leaves me in that desired condition at present. Give my kind love to Agnes and William Greenbank, I hope they are both well. Tell Agnes I have a very pretty Turks cap for little Tom, and a pair of Turks stockings for little Hannah, and some tobacco for my poor father. Tell Agnes I will send the cap by post. You must give my love to all my friends in Penrith. I hope to be with you soon. I consider myself very fortunate to have been permitted to return to Old England again after three severe attacks of fever, losing my toes, and been in three desperate engagements with the enemy in a foreign land. Yet God has spared me to return home.

Dear parents, in my last letter to you from the hospital at Scutari, I expected to have been in England at the end of last month, but the ship was not ready till the 19th, when we left. There are a great many poor invalids waiting here to be discharged. Some without legs, others without arms, and many like myself with frost-bitten feet. You must remember me to Mrs. Bewley, Mr. Scott, poor Old Grandfather, Mr. and Mrs. Lawson, and their sister Barbara. Hoping to hear from you soon, I must conclude this time, and beg to remain your affectionate son,

Wm. Pearson, 4th Light Dragoons

Invalided Depôt, Chatham

"Absent without leave" for five days, 27th-31st of August 1855, but no disciplinary charge was made against him.

Kendal Mercury, 15 September 1855:

The Fall of Sebastopol — Great Public Demonstration in Penrith

... Several brave young men, natives of Penrith, have cheerfully borne their share in the dangers and hardships of the present war. There is poor Tom Bromley, whose graphic and pathetic letters must have struck every one who read them, and Lowther Stewart, too, and Harry Bromley, both of whom fell victims, not to Russian bayonets, but the pestilence; and last, not least, William Pearson, the Light Dragoon, who, after charging at the cannon's mouth, where the leaden shower rained death around him in the valley of Balaklava, has recently returned to England. What a pity he was not in Penrith on Tuesday night!

Carlisle Patriot, 3 November 1855:

On Friday evening, the 26th Oct., the inhabitants of Penrith witnessed one of those heart-stirring scenes which happen only once in a lifetime. Pearson, a private in the 4th Light Dragoons, arrived from the Crimea, by the eight o'clock evening train. He was met at the station by a multitude of his fellow-townsmen, awaiting his coming, who have him the welcome in the good old English fashion. The Yeomanry band kindly contributed their best services, which gave quite a military appearance on the occasion. The hero of Balaklava, — one of the very few who survived that fearful and fatal onslaught, — was at once chaired, and carried shoulder height through the town to his poor mother's residence. During the procession from the station, the crowd swelled into thousands, music, with unceasing cheers, rent the air, and every heart beat high in joy at this soldier's return from the war.

Pearson has nobly served his country's cause, and on that very memorable day, with his firm hand and stout sword, did he slash his way through the surrounding and closing ranks of the mounted foe. He suffered during last winter severely in the trenches before Sebastopol, — for all this, and more than words can express — our extravagant War Department has granted him a pension of 5s. a-week, whilst on his breast he wears a medal mounted with three clasps.

Liverpool Mercury, Monday 5 November 1855:

A private in the 4th light dragoons, named Pearson, arrived at his native place, Penrith, a few days ago, from the Crimea. Pearson was one of the very few who survived the fearful cavalry charge at Balaclava. At the railway station he was met by a multitude of his fellow-townsmen, and by a yeomanry band of music, and was chaired and carried shoulder height through the town to his poor mother's residence...

The Lancaster Gazette and General Advertiser &c, Saturday 10 November 1855:

Arrival of a Crimean Hero at Penrith

It having become generally known throughout the town that William Pearson of the 4th Dragoon Guards, a native of Penrith, would arrive home on Friday night last, by the eleven minutes past eight o'clock train, it was determined to give him a hearty welsome on his return from the war. The Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry Band were in attendance at the station and played several military pieces; and a blue, white, and red flag was hoisted amongst a dense crowd of the inhabitants; indeed it was calculated that the assemblage of people was larger than that at the same station when her Majesty passed through Penrith on her first visit to the Highlands.

On his stepping out of the railway carriage a suitable chair awaited him; he at first refused to get into it, and said he would rather walk down home, but the crowd would not allow him to walk, and he was put into the chair and hoisted on the shoulders of four soldiers of the recruiting parties of the 56th and 29th Regiments, now at Penrith.

The cheering of the crowd was deafening. He was preceded by the band, playing the favourite piece of 'Red, white and blue;' two flags and a dense concourse of people, a number of whom were much hurt by being trampled upon. The procession then went from the station down Castle-gate into the Corn-market in Great Dockray, thence through the Market-square, down the front street to the 'New Crown,' across the square, up past the Post Office to the door of Mr. Pearson's own house into the embraces of his mother, who wept tears of joy at the return of her only son and child from the scenes of war. Part of the crowd (with more heartiness than delicacy of feeling) also rushed into the house to witness the affecting meeting. The house was then cleared of strangers, and the vast assemblage began gradually to disperse.

After having had refreshment at the table of his mother, the young soldier repaired to Mr. John Harrison's, the Lion and Lamb Inn, where in the large dining-room, a considerable number of his companions and fellow-townsmen were awaiting him, and hailed his return into the room with loud and long bursts of cheers, which being partially subsided, every one shook hands with him, heartily welcoming him home to his native place.

During the remainder of the evening he recounted over to his friends the particulars of the 'grand cavalry charge' at Balaclava, and hair-breadth escapes he there made, &c. The loss of four toes by the frost last winter at the camp have fortunately not caused much lameness. He has been discharged with a pension of 5s. per week for life. We understood that he intends to join the Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry Cavalry. — Westmorland Gazette.

Discharge & pension

Discharged from Chatham Invalid Depot on the 16th of October 1855:

"Disabled by loss of portion of all the toes of the right foot after frostbite in the Crimea on the 24th of December 1854. Unfit for further military service."

Served 7 years 238 days.

In Turkey and the Crimea: 11 months.

Aged 28 years on discharge.

Conduct: "a good soldier."

In possession of one Good Conduct badge.

He is shown as "Intending to remain at Chatham".

Awarded a pension of 8d. per day on discharge. On the 30th of May 1898 he was told, "Not eligible for a campaign pension, having a permanent pension." He applied again for a pension increase on the 20th of August 1907 and this was increased to 1/8d. per day from the 5th of September 1907.

Medals

Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol. Documents confirm the award.

WP's medals etc in the Penrith Museum

[PB, December 2017: There is such a lot of detailed discussion in the EJBA about William Pearson's medals, photographs and memorabilia now in the Penrith Museum that I have transferred this material to a dedicated web-page Charge of the LightBrigade: William Pearson's Medals at Penrith Museum. ]

Commemorations

Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1879.

In 1886, at the age of 60, he is said to have travelled to Hounslow in Middlesex, where he won the Crimean Veterans race and, having missed the train home, spent the night at the regimental ball.

Attended the Balaclava Dinner in 1897.

Present at the Jubilee Celebrations given by T.H. Roberts at his Fleet Street offices in June 1897. He signed the testimonial given to Mr Roberts on that occasion and also the Loyal Address given to the Queen on the occasion of her Jubilee. (See copy of the various signatures in the "Memoirs" file and the record of 1283 William Pearson for comment on how both men came to be there.)

1353 William Pearson's signature on the 1897 Roberts Address.

(Click on image to enlarge)

He had written from Crispin Cottage, Underbarrow, near Kendal, when replying to the invitation from Mr. T.H. Roberts to be present at the Jubilee celebrations in June 1897:

May 25th, 1897.

Dear Sir,

I thank you very much indeed for your kind invitation to London to the Queen's Jubilee, and shall have great pleasure in accepting it, health permitting. Living as I do at such a great distance from any of my old comrades, it will indeed be a great treat to meet them once again, especially under the circumstances.

Yours respectfully,

William Pearson,

Late 4th Queen's Own Lt. Dragoons.

Marriage

There is a story that he met his future wife, Elizabeth, the daughter of Doctor Adam Douglas Molloy of the Royal Navy, at a ball held at Dover for the invalids immediately after their return from the Crimea. They married within a week of his discharge, on the 22nd of October 1855.

After his return to Penrith, where they lived in King Street, he acted as "Inspecting Officer's Orderly" for the Dalemain Troop of the Westmoreland and Cumberland Yeomanry Cavalry.

In an article on William Pearson by Mary Ramose, published in the Penrith Herald on the 6th of August 1994, she said that "It was at Brompton, on the 22nd of October 1855, that he married Miss Elizabeth Napier" [sic]. (There are pictures in the 4th Hussar file of the "Pearson" medals which appeared at the same time.)

However, although a check of the marriage records at St. Catherine's House shows a William Pearson married in the Medway District during the October-December quarter of 1855, and there is a corresponding entry for an Elizabeth Molloy, there is no entry for an Elizabeth "Napier" at this time.

Marriage registered

William Pearson and Elizabeth Molloy, December Quarter 1855, Medway.

Birth registered

William Douglas Pearson, December Quarter 1857, Carlisle.

Birth registered

Maurice John Pearson, March Quarter 1862, Penrith.

Life after service

1861 Census

Townhead West, Penrith.

William Pearson, aged 36, Chelsea Pensioner & Skinner, born Penrith.

Elizabeth, 25, born Penzance.

William Douglas, 3, born Carlisle.

1871 Census

Dalton, Dalton in Furness.

William Pearson, 44, Skinner, born Penrith.

Elizabeth, 35, born Penzance.

William D, 13, Skinner Assistant, born Carlisle.

Maurice J, 9, Scholar, born Penrith.

In or about 1880 William Pearson went to reside at Underbarrow, Kendal, where he first lived in Thorne Villa, later moving to Crispen Cottage. Here he carried on a prosperous fell-mongering and tannery business which he eventually handed over to his two sons, William and Maurice.

1881 Census

Thorn's Mansion, Underbarrow & Bradley Field.

William Pearson, 54, Skinner, born Penrith.

Elizabeth, 45, born Penzance.

William D, 23, Skinner's Son, born Carlisle.

Morris J [Morris or Maurice?], !9, born Penrith.

1901 Census

Alma Cottage, Underbarrow, Westmorland.

William Pearson, aged 74, Army Pensioner, born Penrith.

Elizabeth, 65, born Penzance.

In 1905, William Pearson and Elizabeth, his wife, celebrated their golden wedding at Church View, Aynam Road, Underbarrow, Kendal.

Death registered

William Pearson, aged 82, September Quarter 1909, Kendal.

1911 Census

16 Aynam Road, Kendal.

Elizabeth Pearson, aged 75, widow, born Penzance.

Elizabeth Pearson died on Jan the 27th 1925, and was buried January 30th 1925 [Born March 3rd 1836 — Died Jan 27th 1925].

Death registered

Elizabeth Pearson, 88, March Quarter 1925.

Death & burial

William Pearson died at Church View, Aynan Road, Westmorland, on the 31st of July 1909, aged 83 years, after a short illness, leaving a widow and two sons. See the report of his death and funeral taken from the Kendal Times and Mercury, 8th of August 1909 in the 4th Hussar file, and also a photograph of the grave in Parkside Cemetery, Kendal.

According to Canon Lummis, the funeral is said to have been paid for by the Roberts Fund. (See record of 1283 William Pearson, 4th Light Dragoons, for comment regarding this statement.)

William and Elizabeth Pearson's gravestone in Parkside Cemetery, Kendal.

IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF
WILLIAM PEARSON
LATE OF THE 4TH QUEEN'S OWN LIGHT DRAGOONS
AND ONE OF THE SIX HUNDRED IN THE
CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE AT BALACLAVA
OCT 25TH 1854.

BORN OCT 2ND 1826, DIED JULY 31ST 1909

ALSO OF ELIZABETH, WIDOW OF THE ABOVE
BORN MARCH 3RD 1836, DIED JAN 27TH 1925

(Click on image to enlarge)

There is a close-up of the inscription on his gravestone — on which his wife, Elizabeth, is also commemorated — in the 4th Hussar file.

In his will he left a personal estate of £362/5/2d. to his wife, Elizabeth.

In February 1973 a plaque commemorating him was unveiled outside his old home. [Address?] There are copies of a picture and a newspaper report of a ceremony in the archive.

A plaque on the wall of what was once the Mitre Hotel in King Street, Penrith, commemorates where William Pearson was born [PB: lived at some time?]. [January 2014: the Mitre is now called 'The Lounge' hotel and bar].

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION — PENRITH & DISTRICT BRANCH
HERE RESIDED
TROOPER WILLIAM PEARSON
4TH LIGHT DRAGOONS
BORN 1828-DIED 1903
CHARGED WITH
THE LIGHT BRIGADE
AT BALAKLAVA
1854

(Click on image to enlarge)

[PB: Why are the dates given (1828 — 1903) so different from the Pearson's actual dates (1826-1909)?]

Marriage registered

Maurice John Pearson [William Pearson's son] and Jane Lund, December Quarter 1884, Kendal.

Births registered

Mary Elizabeth, December Quarter 1886, Kendal.

William, September Quarter, 1888, Kendal.

Maurice John, December Quarter 1889, Kendal.

Douglas, March Quarter 1891, Kendal.

1891 Census

Orphan Cragg, Underbarrow.

Maurice J Pearson, aged 29, Leather Dresser, born Penrith.

Jane, 31, born Underbarrow.

Mary Elizabeth 4, born Underbarrow.

William 2, born Underbarrow.

Maurice J, 1, born Underbarrow.

Douglas, 3 months, born Underbarrow.

Births registered

Annie, June Quarter 1894, Kendal.

Irene, September Quarter 1896, Kendal.

Albert, September Quarter 1905, Kendal.

Death registered

Douglas, aged 1 year, June Quarter 1892, Kendal.

1901 Census

Hill End Cottage, Underbarrow & Bradley Field.

Maurice Pearson, aged 39, Leather Dresser, born Penrith.

Jane, 41.

Mary E, 14; William, 12; Maurice J, 11; Annie, 8, and Irene, 4.

1911 Census

Melrose Place, Kendal.

Maurice Pearson, aged 49, Fellmonger & Leather Dresser, born Penrith.

Jane, 51, born Underbarrow.

Mary Elizabeth, 24, Dressmaker; Maurice John, 21, Fellmonger & Leather Dresser; Annie, 18, Dressmaker; Irene, 14, and Albert, 5.

Death registered

Maurice J Pearson, age 66, September Quarter 1928, Ulverston.

A news item in the Westmorland Gazette, 19th of March 1955, showed that a previous letter about him to the Editor had brought to light a photograph of William Pearson in civilian clothes and wearing his medals. The picture then belonged to a Miss Irvine, of Kendal, but had formerly belonged to Miss Irvine's mother, who died in 1978 aged 100. She had known Mr. Pearson well and often used to talk about him. Miss Irvine remembers her mother saying that the old veteran had lost several toes from frostbite during the campaign and she thinks he may have lived in New Road, Kendal, but she remembers little else about him. (There is a copy of this photograph in the 4th Hussar file.)

[PB: I assume this is Miss Irvine's photograph referred to above. EJBA, negative 441-32.]

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1353 William Pearson's signature on the 1897 Roberts Address.

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William Pearson's tombstone in Kendal Cemetery

Photo from "A Bit About Britain: Trooper Pearson and the Charge of the Light Brigade" blog (link below).

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References & acknowledgements

Additional marriage, birth and death registrations, and Census information for 1861-1911, kindly provided by Chris Poole.

Links

• War Memorials Online: Trooper William Pearson (accessed 11.12.2017). Image of the Blue Plaque on 'The Lounge' Hotel & Bar, King Street, Penrith, and very brief text, including a reference to a "life sized portrait" of him in Penrith Museum.
• A Bit About Britain: Trooper Pearson and the Charge of the Light Brigade (first accessed 27.9.15, but this link appears to be to a similar article published in May 2017.)
• www.eden.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museum-penrith-and-eden/museum-collections/trooper-william-pearson-crimean-hero/ (accessed 27.9.15)
• www.cwherald.com/a/archive/penrith-man-charged-with-ill-fated-600.204355.html (accessed 27.9.15)
• Wendy Leahy, Shadows of Time website: 4th Light Dragoons Personal Records: 1283 William Pearson. The editors are grateful to Wendy for allowing us to include information from hr website.
• BBC, A History of the World: "Charge of the Light Brigade" Survivor (accessed 10.12.2017).







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This life-sized portrait photograph by E Fowler Richards is of William Pearson of Penrith (1826-1909). Pearson was a survivor of the Crimean War and took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854. The photograph was commissioned in 1894 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 'Charge' and to honour Pearson who was then aged 68. It is framed with a smaller vignette of Pearson in uniform after discharge in 1855.

During the 'Charge' Pearson had a hair's-breath escape from death and later suffered severe frostbite. He was nursed by Florence Nightingale at the hospital in Scutari where she pioneered modern nursing practices while caring for the wounded. Pearson served through the whole of the Crimean War and received a medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkermann and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal. The medals, photograph and other memorabilia are all on display in Penrith Museum.

Penrith's Crimea War Hero Trooper William Pearson

Penrith museum owns the medals and other memorabilia of William Pearson (1826-1909), the Crimea War survivor. The town has done much to ensure that the man and his bravery should not be forgotten. As long ago as 1894 townsfolk marked the 40th anniversary of the "Charge of the Light Brigade" by acquiring a life size photograph of Pearson, who was then still alive. Still in its elaborate frame it is now owned by the Museum. He has the distinction of having a corner of the town named after him 'Pearson Court' and a plaque is affixed to the property in King Street formerly the Mitre Hotel where he was born in 1826. He was brought up in North Westmorland and was a leather dresser before running away to enlist in the 4th Light Dragoons in 1848, at Westminster. He was serving in Ireland when the regiment received orders for the Crimea.

During the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava his horse stumbled over another that had fallen and he had to mount a rider-less horse of the 8th Hussars. He had an epaulette shot from his shoulder and returned from the affair with a wound to his forehead. The severe Crimean winter left Pearson with frost-bite and he spent Christmas Eve 1854 having four toes amputated. He was nursed by Florence Nightingale at the hospital in Scutari before being invalided home.

He was presented before Queen Victoria in 1855, and discharged as unfit for further military service, with a pension of 8d a day. This was later increased to 12s a week by the Royal Patriotic Fund. He received the Crimea Medal (with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol), the Turkish Medal, and he also had a Good Conduct Badge.

He met his wife at a ball in honour of the Crimean heroes held at Dover and they returned to Penrith, where Trooper Pearson became Inspecting Officer's Orderly to the Dalemain Troop, Cumberland and Westmorland Imperial Yeomanry. In 1880 he moved to Underbarrow, near Kendal, where he set up a fellmongering and tanning business. He retired in 1906, and died in July 1909, aged 82. He was buried with military honours in Parkside Cemetery, Kendal.

[Source: Eden District Council: Local Personalities (accessed 10.12.2017).]

1353 William Pearson in Roy Dutton, Forgotten Heroes, date [1st edition], pp.64 — 65. Downloaded from Google Books.

[PB: RD notes he has incorporated material about the "two William Pearsons" from EJB. Check if there's any new info. to add to this entry.]

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Feature, BBC News, 3rd February 2010:

"Trooper Pearson's photograph"

Belinda Artingstoll, Special Features producer BBC Radio Cumbria

This is a tale of bravery, disastrous mistakes and Florence Nightingale and it centres on a photograph belonging to one of Cumbria's smallest museums.

The photograph is of Trooper William Pearson who survived the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War.

William Pearson photographed in later life by E. Fowler Richards.

Born in Penrith he went to London and joined the 4th Light Dragoons, instead of joining a local regiment.

In October 1854 he was one of the 600 who were ordered to ride towards the Russians at Balaclava.

Firing on them

The aim was to stop the Russians moving the British guns they had captured earlier in the campaign. But instructions from commanding officers were confusing and ultimately disastrous.

As a result they rode down the valley towards the wrong guns with the Russians firing on them from three different sides.

More than a third of the men were killed or wounded and around half of those who were left had lost their horses.

The Charge has gone down in history and inspired a famous poem of the same name by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Florence Nightingale

In a letter to his parents three weeks after the Charge, Trooper Pearson describes how he had to ride over the bodies of his fallen comrades. He was only slightly injured but he did lose his horse.

Although, in the letter he revealed that when he got back to camp he was delighted to find that his horse had returned safely.

William Pearson photographed as a young man.

Judith Clarke, the curator at Penrith Museum, says he did end up in hospital but not as a result of his battle wounds. They were living and fighting in extremely wintry conditions and he had to have four toes amputated because of frostbite.

While he was recovering in hospital he was nursed by Florence Nightingale. He died in Kendal in 1909 and was buried with full military honours.

Lord Cardigan

Local historian Colin Bardgett says the Crimean War was a wake-up call for the British Army and showed how badly organised it was.

It was the first war that was photographed and war correspondents were able, for the first time, to use the telegraph to get their stories back to the British public much more quickly than before.

The war also brought us the balaclava and the cardigan, which was named after one of the commanders, Lord Cardigan, who wore a small woollen jacket as part of his uniform.

The photograph in Penrith Museum is of Pearson in later life and was commissioned by a local man to mark the 40th anniversary of the Charge. The image hung in the local library for many years.

Pearson's medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkermann and Sebastopol, and his Turkish medal, on display at the Penrith Museum.

The museum also has his two Crimean War medals and other items that used to belong to him. Interestingly the museum bought the medals in the early 1970s only to find out that there were two Trooper Pearsons with those medals and they had bought the wrong set. But eventually the right set came up for sale and they bought those too!

The museum is closed for refurbishment but you can see the photograph at the town's tourist information centre."

Judith Clarke, Curator at Penrith Museum, and others talk about Trooper Pearson: Listen (4 mins 44 secs).

[Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/local/cumbria/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8495000/8495285.stm.]

[PB, June 2015: There was a brief mention of William Pearson in an article posted on CumbriaCrack.com mainly devoted to a local man, Levi Grisdale, who had fought at Waterloo.]

As is only right, Penrith has honoured a son of the town, namely, Trooper William PEARSON of the 4th Light Dragoons who was involved in the "Charge of the Light Brigade" at Balaclava in 1854 during the Crimean War. Pearson Court is named for him and his birthplace in King Street bears a plaque. A hero of history no doubt. However, there is another local man, also a cavalryman, who should be better known and who was of equal heroic character. This man's name was Levi GRISDALE, and a chance reading of a somewhat worn, old headstone in Penrith Cemetery led to some research on Grisdale.

[Source: cumbriacrack.com/2015/06/15/penrith-man-at-battle-of-waterloo-june-1815/ (accessed 16.6.2015).]

[PB, April 2016: I transcribed and added an obituary for WP (including a poem about the Balaclava Charge by the Rev. Tew) added. The source was a newspaper article [unknown origin], with headline "A Veteran's Death at Kendal", in a page of cuttings about WP in EJB's 4th Hussar file vol 3.]



William Pearson, "A Veteran's Death at Kendal", EJB cutting in 4th Hussar file vol 3.

Top right: William Pearson's tombstone in Kendal Cemetery — the large cross on the right in the photograph. (Photo probably EJB, pre-2002).

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Presented to Pearson and other survivors at the 50th celebration of the battle — lines written for the occasion by the Rev. E.L. Tew, M.A., Rector of Upham, Herts:

Half a century behind us

Lies the day that ne'er shall fade,

Day when Balaclava's glory

Gleaned upon the Light Brigade.

"Half a league" in front the foemen

Massed in sullen order lay,

Miles it seemed, as our Six Hundred

Swooped down on their dense array.

As we rode to join the muster,

When the deadly strife was o'er,

Thought we sadly of the comrades

Who with us should ride no more.

Round the guns we left them lying,

'Neath Crimean sod they rest,

Yet to-day their names are graven

In each faithful English breast.

Others too claim memory's honour

Who survived the direful fray,

Who with us, few years or many,

Met to keep that glorious day.

Fifty years are strewn with losses,

Age can tell of heroes slain,

Time has wrought as great a carnage

As grim Balaclava's plain.

Passed is he who rode before us,

Calm, unflinching, to the strife,

Passed the trooper, who for country

Nobly risked his morn of life.

Yet, as — when the sharp stern order,

"Close in!" rolled from rank to rank -

Closed we, as the gaps grew wider,

Knee to knee and flank to flank;

S to-day more close we gather,

Dwell on faithful friendships past,

Mourn our dead; "rest, peace, and glory,

Grant us, Lord, with them at last."

Dim the eye, then battle-lighted,

Dull the ear the trumpet woke,

Nerveless is the arm and feeble

Or for lance or sabre stroke

Signs these that a louder Trumpet

Son must sound the muster call,

When before the Great Commander

Answer make His soldiers all.

Yet shall England sooner perish,

In the dust her glory laid,

Than the fame shall be forgotten

Of her gallant Light Brigade.