John Pearson
Private, 8th Hussars
- Register No.
- 977 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 8th Hussars (register: 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars) all 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars VCs →
- Date of action
- 17 June 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- 26th January, 1859 on this day → all of 1859 →
- Born
- 19th January 1825 at Leacroft, Leeds, Yorkshire
- Died
- 18th April 1892 at Ontario, Canada
- Memorial / grave
- on plaque in Memorial Park, Lion's Head, Ontario, Canada
Digest of citation
In a gallant charge made by a squadron of the Regiment at Gwalior, India on 17th June 1858, included Private Pearson, Captain Heneage, Sergeant Joseph Ward, and Farrier George Hollis. They were supported by the Division of the Bombay Horse Artillery and the 95th Regiment. They routed the enemy who were advancing upon a position held by Brigadier Smith. They charged through the rebel camp into two batteries, capturing and bringing back two of the enemy's guns, all the time under heavy converging fire from the fort and the town
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
PEARSON, John. (reg No. 977).
Private. 8th Hussars. * London Gazetted on 26th January, 1859.
Born on 19th January 1825 at Leacroft, Leeds, Yorkshire.
Died on 18th April 1892 at Ontario, Canada.
Memorial on plaque in Memorial Park, Lion's Head, Ontario, Canada Digest of Citation reads: In a gallant charge made by a squadron of the Regiment at Gwalior, India on 17th June 1858, included Private Pearson, Captain Heneage, Sergeant Joseph Ward, and Farrier George Hollis. They were supported by the Division of the Bombay Horse Artillery and the 95th Regiment. They routed the enemy who were advancing upon a position held by Brigadier Smith. They charged through the rebel camp into two batteries, capturing and bringing back two of the enemy's guns, all the time under heavy converging fire from the fort and the town.
* King's Royal Irish.
Additional information:. Private Pearson, Captain Heneage (reg No. 560), Sergeant Ward (reg No. 1271) and Farrier Hollis (reg No. 582) were elected by the Regiment for the Victoria Cross under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant of 29th January, 1856 . Private Pearson later joined the 19th Hussars and became a sergeant.
Additional information
Private Pearson, Captain Heneage (reg No. 560), Sergeant Ward (reg No. 1271) and Farrier Hollis (reg No. 582) were elected by the Regiment for the Victoria Cross under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant of 29th January, 1856 . Private Pearson later joined the 19th Hussars and became a sergeant.
* King's Royal Irish.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: on plaque in Memorial Park, Lion's Head, Ontario, Canada
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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