Report from Derbyshire Courier 19th August 1916

“Some time ago we recorded the death at the front of Pte Wm Pearson, Sherwood Foreters, son of Mr and Mrs George Pearson, North Street, Cromford.

On Wednesday the parents received a letter from the sister in charge at 36 Casualty Clearing Station intimating that their only remaining son, Pte Samuel George Pearson, also of the Sherwoods, had died of wounds. The letter is dated 9 August and runs:-‘I am grieved to tell you of the death from wounds of your son Pte S G Pearson, Sherwood Foresters. He was admitted to this hospital today having been wounded in the left thigh. The bone was broken high up and he was very weak and much collapsed from loss of blood. The doctors did all they could for him but we could not bring him round and he passed away very peacefully at 4:20 pm. Mercifully in that very low half-conscious condition he was not feeling much pain... He seemed such a fine young fellow, poor boy. He called several times for 'Tom' ie Pte Tom Robinson, Cromford, but did not mention anyone else. He did not know where he was. Believe me to be, with most sincere sympathy. Yours very truly, Vernon Harcourt.’

The late Pte Pearson, like his brother, worked at Masson Mills, Matlock Bath. He joined up in September 1914 and had been at the front 14 months with only one visit home on leave. He was a member of the Cromford Troop of Scouts and won a medal for his excellent shooting in a scouts' competition at Matlock. Pte Pearson was 22 years of age and was a member of the local lodge of Foresters.”

Sarita Parkin