PEARSON Percy

Appears on the Army casualties list for Worcestershire.

Percy Pearson came from Lye and enlisted in the Royal Corps of Signals. By 1944 his unit was serving with the 59th (Staffordshire) Division which had been under training for the Normandy landings for two years. The Signals were a vital part of modern warfare and provided crucial information for commanders at all levels. They landed on the 21st June to reinforce the troops who had been fighting since D Day. On the 7th July they were in a major attack to capture Caen which had been stubbornly defended for a month. In spite of massive air support Caen was not taken although all the attempts by German Panzer divisions to counter attack were beaten off. The 59th Division was then switched to undertake a further attack to the west of Caen. This eventually led to the break through and to the capture of Mont Pincon, the key to the area south west of Caen. The German withdrawal towards Falaise provided a great opportunity to cut off their retreat, but Driver Percy Pearson was killed in action on the 16th August during the advance towards Falaise.

The following information has been researched by and is courtesy of Paul Burkitt:
1921 Census
8 Crabbe Street, Wollescote, Worcestershire
Hartley Pearson, Head, age 38 years 7 months, Sheet Iron Worker at Watts Ltd Birmingham
Agnes Pearson, Wife, age 39 years 7 months, Home Duties
George Pearson, Son, age 16 years 10 months, Sheet Iron Worker, Out of Work, later updated to Watts Ltd
Emma Pearson, Daughter, age 14 years 10 months, Out of Work, later updated to Machinist Evesons Bros
Leslie Pearson, Son, age 8 years 10 months
Percy Pearson, Son, age 5 years 10 months
Mabel Pearson, Daughter, age 1 year 9 months

The following information has been researched by and is courtesy of John Barry:
1939 Register
42 Brook Crescent, Stourbridge
Hartley Pearson, born 3rd November 1882, Sheet Iron Worker
Agnes Pearson, born 11th November 1881, Household duties unpaid
Percy Pearson, born 15th August 1915, Sheet Iron Worker
Mabel M. Pearson, born 12th September 1919