Alderton's WW1 War Dead
Below are the biographical and military details of the sixteen men listed on the Alderton War memorial. I have also included two men whose names do not appear on the Alderton village memorial. Only one of the two Grimmett brothers appears on the memorial, so details of both are included below, and Jesse James, who was born in Alderton but lived in Stanton, where he is commemorated.
Private William Pearson
Name/Rank: Private William Pearson
Regiment/Battalion: 9th battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 19088
Date died: 22nd October 1916
Buried/Commemorated: Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery, (Greece)
Commemorated: Alderton War memorial
William Pearson was born in Winchcombe in 1875. His parents William and Julia had three other children Laura, Frederick and Harry. Between 1881 and 1901 the family lived in Bull Lane, Winchcombe, though by 1891 Wiliam’s father had died. The 1911 census records show that William had married Edith Jane Pearson and they had two children a daughter May and a son William Charles. William’s occupation was a shepherd and the family were living in Alderton.
Analysis of Gloucestershire regiment army service numbers suggests that William enlisted in the 9th battalion Gloucestershire regiment in January 1915. The battalion was formed in September 1914 as part of the 78th brigade and 26th Division. Following training in the UK William and the battalion embarked for France, arriving on 21st September 1915. However, the 26th Division were soon moved to Salonika in November 1915.
Although often considered a sideshow Salonika was the scene of several major battles against the Bulgarians, Austro-Hungarians and Germans between 1915 and the conclusion of the campaign. As well as enemy activity the troops also had to contend with extreme heat, malaria and influenza. William Pearson was taken sick with dysentery in September 1916, and he died on 22nd October 1916 as a result of this illness. He is buried in Salonika (Lembet Road) Military cemetery.
Following William’s death a pension of 22s 11d was paid to his wife Edith each week from 7th May 1917. Following William’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £7 14s 11d & £7 10s that were paid to his wife Edith in March/April 1917 and November 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of William’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Edith paid for a private inscription on his gravestone in Salonika which reads "He died that we might live". At the time Edith’s address was 11 Hasfield, Nr. Gloucester. Edith Pearson died aged 79 on 9th December 1961, and she was living at 30 Sherwood Green, Longford, at the time of her death.
William’s death was also listed in the casualty list in the Gloucester Journal of Saturday 25th November 1916 and in the Gloucestershire Echo of Monday 20th November 1916.
William’s service in 1915 entitled him to the 1914-1915 Star as well as the Victory and British War medals.
William Pearson is commemorated on the Alderton War memorial, and is buried in Salonika (Lembet Road) Military cemetery.
Regiment/Battalion: 9th battalion Gloucestershire regiment
Service No: 19088
Date died: 22nd October 1916
Buried/Commemorated: Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery, (Greece)
Commemorated: Alderton War memorial
William Pearson was born in Winchcombe in 1875. His parents William and Julia had three other children Laura, Frederick and Harry. Between 1881 and 1901 the family lived in Bull Lane, Winchcombe, though by 1891 Wiliam’s father had died. The 1911 census records show that William had married Edith Jane Pearson and they had two children a daughter May and a son William Charles. William’s occupation was a shepherd and the family were living in Alderton.
Analysis of Gloucestershire regiment army service numbers suggests that William enlisted in the 9th battalion Gloucestershire regiment in January 1915. The battalion was formed in September 1914 as part of the 78th brigade and 26th Division. Following training in the UK William and the battalion embarked for France, arriving on 21st September 1915. However, the 26th Division were soon moved to Salonika in November 1915.
Although often considered a sideshow Salonika was the scene of several major battles against the Bulgarians, Austro-Hungarians and Germans between 1915 and the conclusion of the campaign. As well as enemy activity the troops also had to contend with extreme heat, malaria and influenza. William Pearson was taken sick with dysentery in September 1916, and he died on 22nd October 1916 as a result of this illness. He is buried in Salonika (Lembet Road) Military cemetery.
Following William’s death a pension of 22s 11d was paid to his wife Edith each week from 7th May 1917. Following William’s death, the Army record of soldiers’ effects lists two amounts of £7 14s 11d & £7 10s that were paid to his wife Edith in March/April 1917 and November 1919 respectively. The first payment would likely have been the remains of William’s army pay and the second a war gratuity paid out to soldiers and their dependants.
Edith paid for a private inscription on his gravestone in Salonika which reads "He died that we might live". At the time Edith’s address was 11 Hasfield, Nr. Gloucester. Edith Pearson died aged 79 on 9th December 1961, and she was living at 30 Sherwood Green, Longford, at the time of her death.
William’s death was also listed in the casualty list in the Gloucester Journal of Saturday 25th November 1916 and in the Gloucestershire Echo of Monday 20th November 1916.
William’s service in 1915 entitled him to the 1914-1915 Star as well as the Victory and British War medals.
William Pearson is commemorated on the Alderton War memorial, and is buried in Salonika (Lembet Road) Military cemetery.
