PEARSON, Thomas Owen
| Service Numbers: | 69, 69A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 September 1914, An original of A Squadron |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 25th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Maitland, New South Wales, Australia, 1896 |
| Home Town: | Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Died of wounds – gunshot wounds to left leg, 5th Southern General Hospital, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, 26 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Portsmouth (Milton) Cemetery, Hampshire, England Portsmouth (Milton) Cemetery, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 69, 3rd Field Ambulance, An original of A Squadron | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Sep 1914: | Involvement Private, 69, 3rd Field Ambulance, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Rangatira embarkation_ship_number: A22 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Sep 1914: | Embarked Private, 69, 3rd Field Ambulance, HMAT Rangatira, Brisbane | |
| 26 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 69A, 25th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 69A awm_unit: 25 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-26 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Private Thomas Owen Pearson enlisted in the 3rd Field Ambulance, the same unit as John Kirkpatrick Simpson of “Simpson and the donkey” fame. He was wounded in shoulder and right hip at Gallipoli about a week after the landing and transferred to Heliopolis in Egypt. He arrived back at Gallipoli on 21 July 1915 and was evacuated again to sickness and sent to England during October, 1915, where he was treated for debility (Convalescent from Gallipoli).
Thomas Owen Pearson was wounded in action on 30 June 1916. He was admitted to 5th Southern General Hospital, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England on soon after with shell wounds to left leg and a fractured fibula – severe. 'On 24 July he showed evident signs of tetanus. He had large doses of antitetanic serum but he died on 26 July 1916 about 11.0 pm.'
His slightly older brother, 481 Corporal Eric Walter Pearson also of the 25th Battalion AIF, was killed in action at Pozieres 3 days later on 29 July 1916, age 22.
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Thomas Owen Pearson was born at Maitland, New South Wales around 1896 to parents Eric W. Watkins & Mabel (nee Richards). (It is unsure if Mabel was married to Eric Watkins). His birth was registered as Thomas Owen Watkins. (His brother - Eric W. Pearson’s birth was also registered under the surname Watkins in 1894 in the district of Manly, NSW to parents Eric Watkins & Mabel. (Note: Four children were born from 1900 to 1912 with parents named as Thomas Pearson & Ellen Mabel Richards. Thomas Pearson married Ellen M. Richards in 1917 in the district of Murwillumbah, NSW.)
On 7th September, 1914 Thomas Owen Pearson enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) as a 19 year old, single Clerk from Dean Street, Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland. He stated on his Attestation Papers that he had served with 8th Oxley 2nd Regiment for 1 ½ years & was still serving.
Private Thomas Owen Pearson, Service number 69, embarked from Brisbane, Queensland on HMAT Rangatira (A22) on 25th September, 1914 with the 3rd Field Ambulance “A” Section.
He proceeded to join M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) at Gallipoli on 2nd March, 1915.
Private Thomas Owen Pearson was wounded in the shoulder & right hip & transferred to Hospital Ship Gloucester Castle. He was admitted to No. 1 General Hospital, Heliopolis & discharged to duty on 23rd June, 1915.
On 21st July, 1915 Private Pearson embarked for Dardanelles from Alexandria on Seang Bee.
He was admitted to 3rd Field Ambulance at Anzac on 26th September, 1915 with diarrhoea then transferred to 1st Casualty Clearing Station the same day. Private Pearson was transferred to Hospital Ship Gascon & disembarked at Malta on 2nd October, 1915. He embarked for England on 25th October, 1915 on Hospital Ship Gibralter.
Private Pearson was admitted to 2nd Southern General Hospital at Bristol, England on 30th October, 1915 with Debility (Convalescent from Gallipoli).
On 4th January, 1916 Private Pearson reported at Depot at Abbeywood.
He was written up for an Offence on 9th February, 1916 – “failing to report for Draft” & was awarded a forfeiture of 1 days’ pay.
Private Pearson returned with 22nd Draft to join M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) on 24th February, 1916 from England. He disembarked from Kingstonian at Alexandria on 5th March, 1916 & joined Overseas Base from England at Ghezireh the same day. Private Pearson was taken on strength with 2nd Field Ambulance from Reinforcements at Serapeum on 12th March, 1916.
On 14th March, 1916 Private Thomas Owen Pearson Regimental Number was altered to 69A while posted with 2nd Field Ambulance. (Usually occurred to duplication of Service numbers).
He was admitted to 2nd Field Ambulance at Serapeum on 14th March, 1916 with Influenza & discharged on 21st March, 1916.
Private Pearson proceeded to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) from Alexandria on 23rd March, 1916 & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 30th March, 1916.
On 19th June, 1916 Private Pearson was transferred from 2nd Field Ambulance to 25th Battalion & joined 25th Battalion in France.
Private Thomas Owen Pearson was wounded in action on 30th June, 1916. He was admitted to 7th Field Ambulance on 1st July, 1916 then transferred to 8th Casualty Clearing Station with shrapnel wounds to left thigh. Pte Pearson was transferred to Hospital Ship St George on 2nd July, 1916 for England.
On 3rd July, 1916 Private Pearson was admitted to 5th Southern General Hospital, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England with Shell wounds to left leg & fractured fibula – severe. Private Pearson was listed on 25th July, 1916 to be suffering from Tetanus. The Hospital report reads “Was admitted to 5th S. G. Hospl 3rd July 1916 with a flesh wound on outer side of left leg which he had received in France on 30th June. There was slight purulent discharge for a few days but it soon cleared up & the wound was healing well when - on 23rd July he complained of a light stiffness of the jaw. On 24th July he showed evident signs of tetanus. He had 18000(?) units a day of antitetanic serum but he died on 26th July about 11.0 pm.”
Private Thomas Owen Pearson died at 11.10 pm on 26th July, 1916 at 5th Southern General Hospital, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England from Tetanus following wounds received in action in France – gunshot wounds to left leg.
He was buried in Milton Cemetery, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England – Plot number K, Row 15, Grave No. 6 and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/-milton.html
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