Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War Observer’s ‘Western Front’ M.C. and Pilot’s ‘Italian theatre’ D.F.C. group of seven awarded to Captain H. A. Pearson, Royal Air Force, late Royal Field Artillery; during the Second War he held a commission as a Lieutenant in the Royal Indian Naval Volunteer Reserve

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. H. A. Pearson. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. H. A. Pearson. R.A.F.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, unnamed as issued, these two in Commonwealth Relations Office card box of issue addressed to ‘Lieut. H. A. Pearson. MC. DFC.’ at Sevenoaks, Kent, nearly extremely fine (7) £4,000-£5,000

M.C. London Gazette 11 December 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He flew with another officer under 1,000 feet in our shell zone in order to silence hostile batteries. He has rendered the most valuable services throughout as an artillery observer.’

D.F.C. London Gazette 3 December 1918 (Italy):
‘During the last ten months this officer has displayed exceptional keenness and ability in carrying out photography and trench reconnaissance. Frequently handicapped by adverse weather conditions and in very difficult country, he has rendered most valuable service in clearing up obscure situations. On 14 June, in low cloud and mist, he took thirty-five successful photographs previous to an enemy attack. These very materially aided our operations.’

Harold Aubrey Pearson was gazetted Second Lieutenant to the Royal Field Artillery on 26 February 1915, serving in the Ypres Salient with 10 Battery, North & West Riding Brigade, R.F.A., in the same year. Seconded to the Royal Flying Corps in the summer of 1916, he trained as an Observer and was sent out as a Probationary to BE2e-equipped 34 Squadron shortly afterwards. His ‘apprenticeship’ satisfactorily completed, he was formally gazetted Flying Officer (Observer) on 21 October 1916. On the following day, Pearson and his Pilot of the day, Lieutenant J. H. C. Minchin, in BE2e ‘5855’ crash-landed into a shell hole following a combat with an enemy machine. Fortunately both crewmen emerged unscathed.

After returning to the U.K. early in 1917, he decided to train as a Pilot, obtaining his Royal Aero Club Certificate (Number 4697) on 26 May 1917, and formally qualified for his full ‘Wings’ on the same day. Pearson now accompanied, as a Pilot, the RE8-equipped 34 Squadron to Italy on 13 November 1917. On 15 June 1918, Pearson and his Observer, Second Lieutenant R. B. Carey, in RE8 ‘C5077’, were badly shot up by ground fire. Although Pearson was unhurt, Carey was wounded in the action. The day before this incident, Pearson had completed the very successful photo-reconnaissance in advance of an Austrian offensive for which, and other fine work, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

During the Second World War, Pearson worked as a liaison officer having been appointed a Lieutenant in the Royal Indian Naval Volunteer Reserve (Special Branch) on 4 November 1942.

Sold with a small photograph of Pearson in uniform wearing the first five medals.

For the recipient’s related miniature awards, see Lot 620.