Samuel George Pearse
Sergeant, 45th Battalion. Royal Fusiliers
- Register No.
- 975 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 45th Battalion. Royal Fusiliers all Royal Fusiliers VCs →
- Date of action
- 29 August 1919 on this day → all of 1919 →
- Conflict / campaign
- North Russia Relief Force
- London Gazette
- 23rd October 1919 on this day → all of 1919 →
- Born
- the 16th July 1897 at Penarth, Glamorganshire, Wales
- Died
- in action on 29th August 1919 near Emtsa, Russia
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- at Archangel Allied Cemetery, Russia; Commemmorationat Brookwood Cemetery, Woking and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Digest of citation
On 29th August to the north of Emtsa, Russia, Private Pearse, cleared a way for the troops to enter an enemy battery position, by cutting away the enemy barbed-wire, all the time under extremely heavy machine gun and rifle fire. Private Pearse went on to attack a Blockhouse which was causing casualties and harassing the advance. He killed the occupants with bombs but a minute later, he was killed. It was due to his courage that the position was carried with remarkably few casualties
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
PEARSE, Samuel George. (reg No. 975).
Sergeant. 45th Battalion. Royal Fusiliers.
London Gazetted on 23rd October 1919.
Born on the 16th July 1897 at Penarth, Glamorganshire, Wales.
Killed in action on 29th August 1919 near Emtsa, Russia.
Memorial on grave at Archangel Allied Cemetery, Russia; Commemmorationat Brookwood Cemetery, Woking and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Digest of Citation reads: On 29th August to the north of Emtsa, Russia, Private Pearse, cleared a way for the troops to enter an enemy battery position, by cutting away the enemy barbed-wire, all the time under extremely heavy machine gun and rifle fire. Private Pearse went on to attack a Blockhouse which was causing casualties and harassing the advance. He killed the occupants with bombs but a minute later, he was killed. It was due to his courage that the position was carried with remarkably few casualties.
Additional information:. Sergeant Pearse also held the Military Medal (MM). During the European War 1914-18 (WWI) he served a the 1st Machine-Gun Battalion, Australian Imperial Force
Additional information
Sergeant Pearse also held the Military Medal (MM). During the European War 1914-18 (WWI) he served a the 1st Machine-Gun Battalion, Australian Imperial Force
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Archangel Allied Cemetery, Russia; Commemmorationat Brookwood Cemetery, Woking and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
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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