Pte Ernest Thomas Pearson
Pte Ernest Thomas Pearson
8515
2nd Norfolk
Died: 26-Jul-15
Listed: Little Dunham Memorial
Remembered: Basra Memorial
Born: Lt Dunham
8515
2nd Norfolk
Died: 26-Jul-15
Listed: Little Dunham Memorial
Remembered: Basra Memorial
Born: Lt Dunham
Ernest was the first soldier from Little and Great Dunham to die in the First World War. He was born in 1882 in Little Dunham, the son of Thomas and Emily. We are not quite sure how many there were in the family; the census says they had just 3 children but in the Register of Soldier’s effect Thomas had listed 8 or 9 sisters!
In the census of 1911 Thomas is recorded as a farm labourer. Although we do not have attestation papers it seems most likely that Thomas had joined the Norfolk Regiment before the outbreak of war. In August 1914 the 2nd Battalion were in India and they were sent to fight in Mesopotamia, present day Iraq. The 2nd Battalion were successful in defeating the Turks in Basra and they embarked on July 16th 1915 up the River Euphrates towards Baghdad. Travelling up the river they encountered much stiffer opposition and it is most likely that Thomas was wounded as he died back in a camp they had set up at Asani. He died on the 26th July and his body was not subsequently found. He is commemorated on the Basra Memorial.
Biography written by Gordon Phillips
In the census of 1911 Thomas is recorded as a farm labourer. Although we do not have attestation papers it seems most likely that Thomas had joined the Norfolk Regiment before the outbreak of war. In August 1914 the 2nd Battalion were in India and they were sent to fight in Mesopotamia, present day Iraq. The 2nd Battalion were successful in defeating the Turks in Basra and they embarked on July 16th 1915 up the River Euphrates towards Baghdad. Travelling up the river they encountered much stiffer opposition and it is most likely that Thomas was wounded as he died back in a camp they had set up at Asani. He died on the 26th July and his body was not subsequently found. He is commemorated on the Basra Memorial.
Biography written by Gordon Phillips