The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (422) Private William James Pearson, 10th AMGC, First World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Troy Clayton, the story for this day was on (422) Private William James Pearson, 10th AMGC, First World War.

422 Private William James Pearson, 10th AMGC
KIA 8 June 1917
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 16 May 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private William James Pearson.

William Pearson, known as "James", was born in 1886 to Nathaniel and Jane Pearson in Hawthorn Victoria. Little is known of his early life. In 1915 he married Annie Elizabeth Sutton, and was working as a labourer in a tannery. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 1 September 1915, but 61 days later he was discharged as medically unfit for service. James Pearson had for many years struggled with alcoholism, and had constantly been drunk and disorderly around camp, resulting in his discharge.

A year later Pearson had cleaned up his act and successfully reenlisted in the AIF. He was sent overseas for service on the Western Front and arrived in France in May 1917 with only one day's misbehaviour against his record.

In the month he spent on active service in the field, Pearson proved an able member of the 10th Australian Machine Gun Company. Towards the end of May he was mentioned in brigade orders "for his very gallant conduct" during recent operations.

On 8 June the company was providing indirect fire to support the infantry. They were under a heavy enemy artillery bombardment, and required more ammunition. Pearson was one of the men who volunteered, and took a double load forward. While he was making his way forward he was hit by a German shell and killed. A second shell hit shortly afterwards, setting the ammunition he was carrying on fire and rendering him unrecognisable. James Pearson was buried by a party of engineers in the field near Bethlehem Farm in Belgium, but his grave was later lost and he now has no known resting place.

Pearson"s Company Commander was anxious that his family in Australia know of his gallant behaviour during his month in the line, and wrote to them to say how "he had acted in a most splendid manner". William James Pearson was 31 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 others from the First World War. There is no photograph in the Memorial's collection to display beside the Pool of Reflection.

This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private William James Pearson, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.