4460740 Pte John Edward WILSON, 16th DLI

Discussion in 'Durham Light Infantry' started by Andrew Marsh, May 25, 2020.

  1. Cpl Hadaway

    Cpl Hadaway Active Member

    Arthur Pearson was of the real personalities of the 16th DLI. As C Company CSM in 1942-43, his nickname was 'The Black Rat', apparently because of his slicked down hair--and other reasons! Not the most popular of NCOs, but he was respected by all as an excellent soldier. His Army number prior to being commissioned was 4449917. He was a very brave but also a very lucky man: the only one of the four Rifle Company CSMs to survive the Battle of Sedjenane in February March 1943 and, as noted above, the only one of the four NCOs subsequently commissioned from the ranks to survive the first few weeks of the Italian campaign. He went to 1 DLI after the war. Shame he didn't do an IWM interview. He was a regular at the annual 16 DLI reunions in Durham and died circa 1995.
     

Share This Page