2721484 Thomas PEARSON, MM, 1 Irish Guards

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by sam robinson, Feb 23, 2009.

  1. sam robinson

    sam robinson Junior Member

    Hello, can I introduce myself. My name is Sam Robinson from Northern Ireland. I support Glentoran Football Club in Belfast and I am extremely interested in the history of our club which is now into its 126th year.

    In 1937 the Glentoran manager Sam Jennings moved to bolster an unsuccessful squad by signing several players from England. One of his signings was a strapping goalkeeper by the name of Thomas Pearson who had previously played for Hull City and Derby County. Thomas was a great acquisition and played 98 times for the Glens. At the outbreak of war Thomas who was now domiciled in Belfast signed up, joining the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards.

    On the 14th February 1943 Glentoran (who had seen their stadium flattened by German bombers on the evening of 4th/5th May 1941) received a letter to say that Thomas had been killed in action in North Africa. He had also been awarded the Military Medal a few days before his death.

    The following are extracts taken from a book (History of The Irish Guards in the 2nd World War) by Major DJL Fitzgerald M.C.

    A series of patrols persuaded the Germans to abandon Sidi Naceur, and then the Battalion concentrated on Recce Ridge. It had already sent a strong patrol to "probe" the enemy’s defences On Sugar Loaf (Point 305) and found them to be good. On the night of the 24th, Lt Keigwin, Sgt Roberts, L/Sgt Pearson and 13 men from No 3 Coy reached the foot of Sugar Loaf and started to climb it. L/Sgt Pearson took a Bren Gun round one side to cover the patrol as it clambered up the rocks. Halfway-way up the hillside the patrol was challenged and fired on by M.G.38's, belt-fed guns on swivel mountings. The Germans (or Austrians) fired continuously for an hour wasting an enormous amount of precious ammunition, and lobbed small grenades over the side of the hill. Most of the fire was directed at L/Sgt Pearson. In fact, he drew it unto himself by firing tracer at each gun in turn, whilst underneath the machine-gun fire the rifle men fought a brief skirmish in twos and threes.

    L/Sgt Pearson was awarded the Military Medal as a result of these actions.

    The 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards were heavily involved in the defence of The Bou (ridge) on the 28th April 1943.
    Thomas Pearson, husband of Margaret Harper Pearson and son of John and Elizabeth Pearson died on the 28th April 1943. He was a Lance Sergeant in the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards. Army No 2721484. Thomas Pearson, the Glentoran goalkeeper is buried in Oued Zargara War Cemetery, plot 1.C.24.
    We are desperately keen to erect some sort of memorial to Thomas at the stadium as a lasting tribute to his award and his bravery and to this end I would be grateful if anyone out there could shed some more light on Thomas himself or one his family. We would also be keen to find out how exactly he lost his life on that day.
    If anyone can help please drop me a line to janice.mclachlan@btopenworld.com any help would be appreciated.
     
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Hi Sam,
    Thanks for posting information. Have sent you a couple of emails with info I have.

    The Army WW2 Roll of Honour states that L/Sgt Thomas Pearson was born in Derby, his residence being Co. Antrim.

    The dates given are confusing me a little, can you check and confirm?

    On the 14th February 1943 Glentoran (who had seen their stadium flattened by German bombers on the evening of 4th/5th May 1941) received a letter to say that Thomas had been killed in action in North Africa. He had also been awarded the Military Medal a few days before his death.


    Lance Serjeant THOMAS PEARSON M M 2721484, 1st Bn., Irish Guards died aged 30 on 28 April 1943
    Son of John and Elizabeth Pearson; husband of Margaret Harper Pearson, of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Remembered with honour OUED ZARGA WAR CEMETERY


    I also have a page from the Appendices of the War Diary which show the plan for the award ceremony, photos of which are in the IG History. The date given is 25 May 1943 and L/Sgt T. Pearson is listed as No. 32 on the chart ... all a little confusing to me at first sight.

    Pg 189 of the IG History states this:
    In June the Bn found a guard of honour for His Majesty the King.....The immediate awards for gallantry had been made by General Anderson, but the four surviving medallists of the campaign - Sergeant Lynch, D.C.M., Lance-Sergeant Ashton, D.C.M., Lance-Sergeant Pearson, M.M., and Guardsman Nicholson, D.C.M. - were presented to His Majesty.
     
  3. sam robinson

    sam robinson Junior Member

    Hi DBF

    Yes, there is a bit of confusion in relation to the date of his death. The information with regard to the receipt of the letter by the club informing them of his death is taken from Glentoran A Complete record which is the definitive record of every game played and every player ever linked to the club. Seperately though the war graves comission gives the date of his death as 28th April 1943, so these two seperate events would seem to coincide although it is also recorded that Pearson was introduced to the King in Tunis in June !!

    A member of the Ulster Branch of the Irish Guards association has been in contact with Wellington Barracks and I "think" we are satisfied that he was killed on the 28th however I'm baffled by the appearance of the detail of his medal presentation.

    I have been given a contact number by the Ulster Branch for Wellington Barracks I tried phoning all day today to no avail, so I will continue the quest tomorrow and I'll let you know how I get on. Thanks for all the info it makes for fantastic reading. Nice wee touch with the Glenavon connection as well :D
     
  4. sam robinson

    sam robinson Junior Member

    Sorry DBF, just picked up on that it's a typo on my part, must still have Valentine's Day on my mind hahaha should read 14th May 1943 apologies
     
  5. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    It's alright Sam, easy done.;)

    It is strange to me how an error like this could have been continually overlooked with all of the meticulous planning ... will shortly post up photos of documents alluded to and you can copy and print off. Should make for an interesting query ...

    Do you have pics of Thomas, playing or in his team strip? I would love to see them if possible, email me if you prefer.

    Are there any photos of the Blitz damage to the ground? We do like our 'then and now' pics

    All the best,
    Diane

    PS Aye, the connection that never was more like. Look up the results for 1920/21 season and see why I was ever so disappointed to find it was the wrong 'G' on a 'double' year. :D
     
  6. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Hi Sam,
    Hope these are legible.
    D

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  7. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Sam has been in contact to say that Glentoran FC's commemorative preparations are being finalised.

    Any 'locals' who are interested ... watch this space. Itinerary to follow.

    Glad to report that the Club also intends to take a collection inside the ground for the IG Afghanistan Fund at one of their fixtures.

    Regards,
    D
     
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Sam and welcome to the forum......I see you have met Diane :D
     
  9. Pete Keane

    Pete Keane Senior Member

    Is it possible that the awards ceremony was planned in ignorance of his death?

    Pete

    Edit: sorry - just spotted he met the King in June!
     
  10. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Hi Peter,
    This is an old thread revived by me IRO upcoming commemoration.

    As far as the date query goes .. the CWGC record is correct and Thomas Pearson MM was dead before the award of the medals; this also confirmed by an eye-witness to his death still living and interviewed by Sam shortly after the thread was begun. By coincidence this ex-1IG veteran was also a long-standing supporter of the football team for which Pearson played as goalkeeper.

    The WD appendices indeed show the award ceremony planned out in detail, oblivious to the fact that Pearson had since been killed in action. I do wonder about who drew up the plans, as there is a mix of Regs, but am certain that the 1IG would have been aware of this important fact by that time.

    Subsequently, the IG official WW2 History was written in 1949, based heavily on the WDs ... and so without being flippant, the Officer who did so was clearly not aware of the inconsistency... there are a few others in the book, but I think that in the overall scheme of things they can be forgiven. A good exercise I think, in how not to take everything that is in black and white as factual.

    Regards,
    Diane
     
  11. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    I was very disappointed not to be able to attend, but this is a compilation of the events on youtube.

    YouTube - GCT/Irish Guards Commemoration

    Eddie, who unveils the plaque, is a 1IG veteran of both North Africa and Italy, and was able to help Sam Robinson piece together the story as Eddie actually witnessed the death of Thomas Pearson MM. He is also a GFC supporter.


    An article:
    Glentoran war hero honouredX»XEast Belfast Herald

    GLENTORAN Community Trust has organised a parade and plaque unveiling ceremony this Saturday (10th) to commemorate the life of Irish Guardsman Thomas Pearson.

    Big Tom was the Glens goalkeeper in the late 1930s who left Belfast to fight in WWII with the Irish Guards and went on to win the Military Medal for exceptional bravery.
    Lance Sergeant Pearson was born in England and played for both Hull City and Derby County before signing for Glentoran in 1937, starring at the Oval before leaving to join the war effort in North Africa. He played 98 times for the Glens and was a jovial and popular figure around east Belfast. While attacking a ridge at Medjez el Bab in Tunisia, he loaded a Bren Gun with tracer rounds bringing the fire of a crack unit of Afrika Korps down on to himself, allowing the rest of his Company to successfully attack the enemy positions. Disregarding the personal risk, he did this for over an hour.

    Saturday’s parade is being led by the Corps of Drums, 1st Battalion Irish Guards, who are all front-line combat troops when not involved in ceremonial duties.

    It is scheduled to leave the East Belfast Mission at 1.30pm and make its way to the Oval, via Dee Street, where a plaque in memory of Thomas Pearson will be unveiled prior to the Glentoran v Portadown game.

    The ceremony to honour Thomas will involve Orangefield man Eddie Donnan who fought alongside him in North Africa and was able to assist military historians in piecing together the circumstances of Lance Sergeant Pearson’s death, shortly before he was due to receive his medal from the King.

    Eddie, who also happens to be an ex-season ticket holder at the Oval, was able to explain how his footballing idol was shot by a German soldier manning the turret of an armoured personnel carrier. Thanks to Eddie’s information, Sam Robinson of the Glentoran Community Trust was able to pass on many valuable facts on to various Irish Guards historians.

    Sam is delighted to have been able to assist in having the records updated: “It was fantastic to actually track Eddie down to hear all about Thomas Pearson. There was a lot of confusion surrounding Thomas and his life, even the fact that records show he was due at a ceremony to have his medal presented despite having been killed a few weeks previously.”

    When the Corps of Drums arrives at the Oval, a plaque will be unveiled to commemorate Thomas Pearson and a collection will be taken on behalf of the Irish Guards Afghanistan Fund, a charity set up to aid injured Irish Guards and their families.
    As well as the parade, the Glentoran Community Trust is organising a collection of much-needed items to provide shoe box sized parcels of goodies, hard to come by in Afghanistan, for front-line troops.

    Councillor Michael Copeland has been backing the GCT initiative from the outset and is hoping the support being shown for the front-line troops will be reassuring for those a long way from home: “I know the east Belfast public will be only too happy to show their support and admiration for the Irish Guards in Afghanistan. Even the smallest item donated will send a message to the soldiers that they are not forgotten.”

    Flyers will be distributed around east Belfast listing suitable items for sending and all donations can be deposited in the Glentoran Superstore in Connswater Shopping Centre. Typical items requested are shower gel, razors, crisps, biscuits, magazines and paracetamol tablets.

    Further information on both the memorial parade and the Home Comforts Collection is available on the GCT website at GCT News.

    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

  12. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    I really hope some low life doesn't nick it, doesn't look that secure on the wall.
     
  13. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Casualty

    Lance Serjeant PEARSON, THOMAS
    Service Number 2721484
    Died 28/04/1943
    Aged 30
    1st Bn. Irish Guards
    M M
    Son of John and Elizabeth Pearson; husband of Margaret Harper Pearson, of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
    INSCRIPTION: GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN
    Buried at OUED ZARGA WAR CEMETERY
    Location: Tunisia
    Cemetery/memorial reference: 1. C. 24.
    See cemetery plan
     
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2019

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