AN HISTORIC 1914-15 TRIO & PLAQUE.


To: 3265. Rifleman C.E.PEARSON. 4th & 9th Bn RIFLE BRIGADE.
Who was SEVERELY WOUNDED IN THE ATTACK ON DELVILLE WOOD on 24th AUGUGT 1916 and Died next day (Severe Gunshot Wound Right Forehead)Charles was also hospitalised with Trench Foot and Frostbite during January 1915.

Charles Pearson enlisted in the army reserve on 4th January 1909 and initially went to France with 4th Bn Rifle Brigade on 20th December 1914.

While serving with the 4th Charles Pearson took part in the fighting on the Somme .The 4th landed at Havre and were engaged in various actions on the Western Front including;
Action at St. Eloi (Ypres area), Battle of St. Julien, Battle of Frezenberg, Battle of Bellewaarde.
When the 4th were ordered to Salonika he remained in France and transferred to the 9th Bn.

The attack on Delville Wood is perhaps one of the most iconic actions of The Great War where vicious hand to hand fighting and gunfire produced shocking levels of dead, missing and wounded.

[NOTES FROM THE WAR DIARY. Which, this being a highly important action we consider are worth reproducing in full]
THE TAKING OF DELVILLE WOOD

On the 18th August, at 2.50 p.m., the 43rd and 41st Brigades attacked from Delville Wood, and captured 279 prisoners and some machine guns. The line was pushed out east of Delville Wood towards Ginchy, along Hop Alley, and consolidated. The trench at the north-east corner of the wood was also entered, but not held.

On the 19th the Battalion marched at 6 p.m. to Montauban, passing through the ruins of Mametz, and occupied the reserve trench, Montauban Alley, just north of Montauban. On the same night the 9th Rifle Brigade went into the front trenches, east of Delville Wood.

On the 20th August, at 6.30 p.m., thirty-two aeroplanes were counted overhead, chiefly ours, and there were many aerial combats without decisive result. At the same time, an enemy observation balloon was shot down.

During the day officers reconnoitred the approaches to Delville Wood.

Delville Wood lies immediately adjoining the village of Longueval. To the east is Ginchy, a small village held by the enemy. To the south-east, Guillemont, a somewhat larger village now being fought for. Away to the north-west is High Wood, the scene of many a fierce struggle, the possession of which is still debated. Immediately to the west, Bazentin le Grand.

Delville Wood itself has been the scene of fighting since July 14th. At this date (20th August) we held a line running through the wood, and the enemy held a line within and parallel to the north and north-east edge. The ground is pitted everywhere with shell holes, and strewn with fallen trees and branches. Longueval is dust and craters, and both Longueval and the wood are carpeted with the remains of bodies, and discarded munitions and material of war, British and German.

On the night of August 21st the Battalion relieved the 8th R.B.'s in Delville Wood. The strength of the Battalion on going into the trenches was 19 officers, 640 other ranks. Lieut. Colonel E. Benson sprained his ankle badly on going up to relief, and was evacuated the next morning, Major H. C. Porter assuming command of the Battalion. The 22nd was fairly quiet, and on that night the Battalion front was thoroughly patrolled, and the enemy's saps were found to be occupied by him. On the 23rd preliminary orders were received for ann attack on the 24th, in conjunction with other corps, and with the French.

The day passed fairly quietly, with the exception of a rather heavy bombardment on Delville Wood. At 3.45 p.m., on the 24th August, a bombardment of our heavy artillery started, which fire was replied to by the Germans. At 5.45p.m. C and D Companies advanced to the attack, and at the same time A Company moved from the support trench (Devil's Help), and re-formed in Devil's Trench, ready to advance. The distance from Devil's Trench to the first objective varied from 250 to 300 yards. The ground was pitted with innumerable shell holes, and obstructed with the debris of fallen trees, necessitating a slow advance. Immediately the barrage lifted, and our assaulting troops climbed over the parapet. The enemy's artillery fire became intense, and machinegun and rifle fire was opened on them, causing many casualties. All the officers of both C and D Companies were either killed or wounded, Captain H. Richmond, O.C. D Company, being killed, and 2nd Lieuts. G. Edgar and J. Heaten, also of D Company, wounded, almost at the commencement of the assault. The men were rallied and led on by the N.C.O.'s.

In C Company, 2nd Lieut. Farran was killed at the commencement of the assault, and Captain M. Mallalue killed, and 2nd Lieut. H. Robins wounded, on nearing the enemy's trench. On the right of Edge Trench, the enemy's wire remained to form a considerable obstacle, and the remains of C Company were unable to gain an entrance into the trench. The Company Lewis Guns, both of C and D Companies, were brought into action close to the German trench, and, for a time, until the teams were killed, fired with effect on the enemy. Sergeant Hamp of D Company, and Corporal Ord of C Company, in charge of the Lewis Gun Teams, fearlessly exposing themselves to heavy fire close to the enemy's trench, both gave their lives, and in the death of these two N.C.O.'s the Battalion has lost men who have always shown a steadfast devotion to duty, and a fine example of cool bravery. No history of the Battalion would be complete which did not record the services which Sergeant Hamp and Corporal Ord had always rendered to the Battalion, and the manner in which they served their guns, and met their deaths with unflinching courage.

At 5.45 p.m. A Company advanced from Devil's Help, forming the third wave of the assault, maintaining its formation and direction splendidly. On our right the attack by the 8th K.R.R.C. from Hop Alley was making no headway, and a party of Battalion Bombers, under Sergeant Martin, was ordered to advance towards the junction of "Ale" and "Hop" Alley, which they found to be held by two men of the 8th K.R.R.C. They were ordered to hold this point at all costs. They established a barricade, from which they bombed the enemy, and held on there until relieved on the morning of the 25th. 2nd Lieut. H. Le Mesurier, advancing with A Company, together with two bombers, leaped over the barricade. 2nd Lieut. Le Mesurier was immediately killed, and the two bombers wounded.

Lieut. G. Warner, commanding A Company, was wounded, and 2nd Lieut. P. Gould missing, believed to have been killed. Thus, at an early stage of the battle, every officer of the assaulting Companies had become casualties, and, a little later, at 7 p.m. the Officer Commanding B Company in reserve, Captain R. S. Daw, was mortally wounded. The attack was now entirely held up by wire, machine-gun and rifle fire - particularly from an enemy strong point situated in Edge Trench, which was found afterwards not to have been seriously damaged by shell fire.

Sergeant Jordan, of A Company, and some men, however, entered the enemy's trench and made many prisoners. This trench and the dug-outs in it were found to contain a considerable number of German dead.

On the 25th August, the following telegram was received from the Brigade The Army Commander congratulates you on your success yesterday, and wishes you to convey to all ranks his appreciation of their gallant work. The Brigadier wishes me to say that his confidence in the fine fighting qualities of the Brigade has been more than justified, and to convey his congratulations to all ranks on their success of yesterday.

The losses suffered by the Battalion during these operations were unfortunately severe. Five officers killed, 1 missing (believed killed) and 6 wounded. Other ranks-41 killed, 190 wounded, and 46 missing.

And thus once more the gallant 9th Battalion did what they were told to do, with credit to themselves; and the blood shed by those brave riflemen who lost their lives for King and Country, will further serve to enhance the good name of a Battalion, jealous of its reputation, and of the honour of the Regiment to which it is proud to belong.

The beginning of September found the Battalion enjoying a well-earned rest in the picturesque village St. Maulvis. Here, out of sound of the guns and under the pleasantest conditions; it was possible to reorganise the Battalion after the heavy losses it had suffered in the strenuous fighting around Delville Wood.

One Company of the 9th R.B.'s was now ordered to reinforce, and early the next morning, at 2 a.m., bombing attacks were organised by Lieut.-Colonel Morris, O.C. 9th R.B., in conjunction with Major H. C. Porter, commanding the 9th K.R.R.C. These attacks were carried out, and the enemy's trench was found to be almost entirely evacuated. As a result of the operations, our objective-the clearing of Delville Wood-with the exception of a small post, was entirely successful. 160 prisoners were captured, including nine officers and some machine guns.

Charles Edward Pearson was born during 1884 in West Farleigh,Kent, and having been a Farm Labourer he enlisted at Maidstone. He was only 5ft 3" Tall.... The Son of Wilfred Pearson,of 2, Annington Terrace, Bell Lane, Ditton near Maidstone. Charles almost certainly died at No.5 casualty clearing station which at the time was based in La Neuville.He is buried and commemorated with eternal honour at CORBIE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION. FRANCE.(Plot 2. Row B. Grave 76.)

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