Stephen Hetley Pearson

He was known as 'Hetley'. Stephen Hetley was born in Beeston on 30th June 1882, the son of Henry John Pearson and of Laura Kate Pearson. His father was a founder of the Beeston Foundry Company. Henry and Laura had seven children; three sons, Stephen Hetley and John Strachan who were twins (b. 30 June 1882), Noel Gervis (b. 1884 O/N/D), and four daughters, Eva Winifred (b. 1878 O/N/D), Laura Dorothy (b. 1880 A/M/J, christened Whiteshill Gloucestershire, 12 September 1880), Elizabeth Marjory (b. Dec. 1885, birth registered 1886 J/F/M)and Janet Mary (b. 1891 O/N/D). In 1891 Henry (40) described as a horticultural builder, and his wife Laura (36) were living at The White House, Town Street, Bramcote, with their six children; Eva (12), Laura (11), John (8), Hetley (8), Noel (6) and Elizabeth (5). Also in the household were four staff; Alice Treffry (sic), a governess, Harriet Ward (23) a cook, Sarah Shortland (17) a housemaid, and Fanny Moore (24) a nurse. The family was still living at The White House in 1901 by which time Henry was the chairman of Beeston Foundry Co. Ltd. Five of their children were at home on the night of the census: Laura (21), John (18) a farmer, Hetley (18) an articled chartered accountant, Noel (16) and Mary (9). Also in the household was Henry's widowed mother-in-law, Catherine G Rogers (86) and a visitor, Margaret Bickers (43). Henry now employed five staff; Alice E Tuffey (sic), a governess, Isabella Brown (33) a cook, Sarah Shortland (27) a parlourmaid, Sophia Arnold (21) a housemaid and Mary Paton (20) a kitchen maid. Henry's daughter, Elizabeth (15) was a pupil boarder at a school in Bristol. By the time of the 1911 Census Henry was 'Director of Engineering Ltd' and gave his address as 'Bramcote'. He and Laura (56) had been married for 33 years. Only four of their children were in the home on the night of the census; Hetley (28) and Noel (26) who were also Directors of Engineering Ltd, Elizabeth (27) and Mary (19). There were five live-in servants: Agnes Edith Wilcox (26), Mary Ann Hall (27), Annie Elizabeth Hopkins (28) and Ann Eliza Jennings (17). Henry's two eldest daughters were married by the time of the 1911 Census; Laura (Priestman) who was married in 1909 and Eva (Pattenden) whose marriage was registered in J/F/M 1911. It is probable that John had emigrated to New Zealand some years before. Henry Pearson died in 1913 aged 63 (1850-1913). His wife, Laura Kate, died in 1938 (1855-1938). The CWGC record gives her address as 109 Ashley Gardens, Westminster, London. There are two stained glass window to the memory of Henry and Laura in the north wall nearest to the chancel in the church of St Michael and All Angels, Bramcote. At the time of Hetley's death in December 1917 he was living at 'The Limes', Chilwell, Nottingham. . Hetley's twin brother, John Strachan Pearson, served in the New Zealand Machine Gun Battalion (13/2236 Corporal) and died of malaria in Alexandria, Egypt, on 4 November 1918 at the age of 36 (Alexandria Hadra War Memorial Cemetery). Henry and Laura's youngest son, Noel Gervis Pearson, enlisted in the 9th Sherwood Foresters Regiment at the outbreak of the First World War. He was made the battalion's adjutant in January 1915 and later served overseas with various units until March 1919. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1916, the Distinguished Service Order in 1918, and was twice Mentioned in Dispatches. He died on 26 November 1958 (death registered Basford). Lt Col Noel Pearson and his wife Kathleen Mary nee Nicolls were married in 1914 (marriage registered A/M/J Basford). They lost two of their three sons in the Second World War. Pilot Officer Henry Hetley Pearson, RAFVS 10 Squadron, was killed in action on 17 August 1941 aged 21. (Heverlee War Cemetery). Lt Basil John Pearson, Royal Armoured Corps 15th/18th King's Royal Hussars, was killed in action on 10 September 1944 aged 20 (Hasselt Kruisveld Communal Cemetery). The third son, Mark, the twin of Basil John, served in the same regiment as Basil. There are memorials to Henry Hetley and Basil John in Wollaton St Leonard's Church. Of Hetley's sisters: Eva Winifred married Walter Leslie Pattenden in 1911 (marriage registered J/F/M Shardlow, Derbyshire). She was widowed on 7 November 1932; she and Walter were living at 'The Eyrie', Godalming, Surrey; Administration was awarded to his widow (Effects £1105 13s. 8d). Eva died on 27 November 1958; her home address was 'Cuttings', Newick, Sussex. Probate was awarded to Pauline Elizabeth Pattenden spinster and Marjorie Victoria Baron solicitor. Effects £12781 13s. 8d. Laura Dorothy married Howard Priestman in 1909 (marriage registered O/N/D Shardlow, Derbyshire). Her husband died on 7 December 1931; his home address was Rosset Myddleton, Ilkley, Yorkshire. Administration was awarded to Noel Gervis Pearson engineer and Ronald Mallorie Priestman spinner (Effects £32092 2s. 8d). The only record found so far for Laura after her marriage in 1909 is that her name (Laura Dorothy Priestman) appears on the West Yorkshire electoral register (Rosset, Pudsey & Otley parliamentary division) from 1918 to 1947 when her last address was Oak Gill House, Rosset. Elizabeth Marjory married William Pakenham Walsh William (also 'Williams') on 17 January 1922 in Toochow, South China. She died in 1976 aged 91 in Otara Nursing Home, Kingsley Green, Haslemere, Surrey. The youngest girl, Mary Janet, has not yet been traced after the 1911 Census.

Educated at Charterhouse School and later trained as an articled chartered accountant. He was a lieutenant in the 2nd Nottingham Company The Boys' Brigade and after three years with the Company restarted the 17th Nottingham Company at Beeston. He and his family largely funded the premises and facilities and he provided for the Club and the Company in his Will.

He enlisted in the ranks of the Northumberland Fusiliers in 1916 and was gazetted to a commission in the Grenadier Guards in January 1917. During the battle of Gauche Wood on 1st December 1917 Stephen was shot in the head whilst leading his men and died immediately. He is buried in Villers Faucon, Communal Cemetery Extension Somme France. A memorial service was held in Beeston parish church on Sunday, 9 December 1917.

An article published in the Hucknall Dispatch dated 4th September 19124 reads :- “WAR HERO. “Identification by His Handkerchief. “The fact that nearly seven years have passed since Lieut. S. Hetley Pearson was killed and that his body should be identified after such a long time is hardly credible. A slender clue discovered by a member of the War Graves Commission has satisfied the relatives that the body is that of Lieut. Pearson. “The deceased joined the colours early in 1916, and was gazetted to the 2nd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards in 1917, and sent to the fighting line in France. He was killed in a battle at Gooch Wood, and, although his relatives were subsequently informed of the spot where he fell, no trace of the body could be found. Hopes that the grave would some day be located were abandoned long ago, but a body has been recovered, and a handkerchief embroidered with the initials “H.P.” found in a pocket of the uniform. The fragment has been identified as belonging to the deceased officer. “The body has been transferred to a British Cemetery in France, and the discovery must offer some consolation to his relatives and friends. The official description of the grave is:- Grave, 6; Row, A; Plot 4; Villers Faucon Communal Cemetery Extension, France. “The late Lieut. Pearson, who was unmarried, was the son of the late Mr. Henry Pearson, a founder of the Beeston Foundry Company, and was a nephew of Sir Louis Pearson, C.B.E., and brother of Captain G. H. Pearson of Bramcote Above article courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Entry in 'The Boys Brigade Gazette', 1st May 1917 (p110): 'Nottingham: Few lads’ clubs, troops of scouts, or the like, possess such a record as the 17th Nottingham Company, whose seventh Annual Demonstration of Physical Exercises was held on 1st April. 'In the absence of the Sheriff of Nottingham (Captain F Swain), to whose great efforts on behalf of the movement (lo-) its present value and strength are in a great measure due. The Vicar of Beeston (the Rev WP Cole Sheane) presided, Mr Charles Mason deputised as the Inspecting officer on behalf of Colonel RL Birkin DSO, whose military duties intervened. 'Tributes were paid to Mr S H Pearson, formerly Mr O Hind’s lieutenant at Dakeyne Street [2nd Nottingham Company BB], by whom the club was founded, and to the Rev HW Gooch, who, as acting Captain and Superintendent respectively, share responsibility during the absence of Mr Pearson on military service. Well over 120 members of the club joined the colours, and 23 have all rendered the great sacrifice. The loss to the club of these noble young lives was vividly brought home to a large congregation recently, when a memorial service was held for six whose names have just been added to the club’s “Roll of Honour”, which now represents practically every front on which the fight for freedom is being waged. 'It may be here fittingly added that no fewer than 1,550 Officers and Old Boys of the Nottingham battalion are serving with His Majesty’s Forces. 146 have been killed, 40 have obtained commissions or reached the rank of warrant officer; 14 have been awarded medals (including a VC), and three have been mentioned in despatches.' Entry in 'The Boys' Brigade Gazette', 1 January 1918: 'In Memory. Second Lieutenant SH Pearson Grenadier Guards. Killed in action, 1st December 1917. 'He died a very gallant gentleman. Every one speaks of his fine leading and very great bravery', so wrote his commanding officer. 'What nobler epitaph could any man desire, and yet what sadness it brought, not only to his beloved Boys of the 17th Nottingham, but to all members of the Nottingham battalion Born thirty-five years ago, and educated at Charterhouse, SH Pearson was the ideal of a BB Officer. A man of tall and commanding presence, he was conspicuous in any Company. He was an enthusiast, who knew how to engender enthusiasm - an idealist, an inspiration, a personality. he was a sincere and loyal Churchman, regular in attendance at Holy Communion with his Boys, and at the Church Services at which he read the lessons. He was a splendid man of business and a great organiser, and these powers were brought into his BB work. He was far more, for he was the best type of a Christian gentleman. What higher mead of praise can one pay? 'He became interested in the BB some ten years ago, as a Lieutenant inthe 2nd Nottingham Company, and after three years devoted work there, he restarted the 17th Nottingham Company at Beeston, a suburb of Nottingham, where his business interests were centred. He took for the Club premises part of a large mill, and in [a] short space of time the Company, which soon had a membership of over two hundred, became one of the best organised and equipped Companies. 'In 1913, large Club premises, splendidly designed, were erected by his efforts, and mainly through the generosity of himself and his family. They were opened on 11th october 1913, by sir William Smith. In 1914, a fine Gymnasium was erected on the site of six cottages, demolished for the prupose, and a Recreation Ground of thirteen acres was purchased. Last June the Club premises and Recreation Ground were conveyed upon trusts to The Boys' Brigade (Incorporated), and by his will, Captain Pearson has made ample provision for the financing of the Club and Company. It will be most difficult to find a man to take his place, but one must trust in faith that the right man will be forthcoming at the right time. 'When War broke out, Pearson was very keen to join up, but had to let his younger brother go first (he joined as a Private and is now a Major in the Sherwood Foresters), and it was not until April, 1916, that he could be released from his business engagements. He joined the ranks of the Northumberland Fusiliers, and in January, 1917, was gazetted to a commission in the Grenadier Guards, where he soon gained the affectionate esteem of both Officers and men. Of his life there a brother officer writes, 'No one amongst us junior officers was more universally popular, of more admired than Hetley. He was a man among men, sterling true, a splendid Officers, and capable beyond most.' 'A most impressive memorial service was held in Beeston Parish Church on the afternoon of Sunday, 9th December, attended by a great and sorrowing throng, including the 17th Nottingham Company, and many Officers of the Nottingham Battalion. The Chaplain of his Company, the Reverend HW Gooch, gave a short, appreciative address. The service concluded with the National Anthem, Handel's 'Dead March in Saul' and 'The Last Post' splendidly rendered by the buglers of the 17th Nottingham.' Probate: PEARSON Stephen Hetley of The Limes, Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, second-lieutenant HM Army, died 1 December 1917 in France. Probate Nottingham, 27 February to George Thornton Simpson, solicitor. Effects £31,302.1s 5d. Stained glass two-light window in St Michael and All Angels, Bramcote, in memory of Hetley. Inscription: ‘To the Glory of God and in loving memory of 2nd Lieut. S Hetley Pearson 2nd Batt. Grenadier Guards killed in action Decr. 1st 1917 aged thirty-five years.' The inscription under the image in the first light reads ‘Be thou faithful unto death’ and in the second light ‘And I will give thee a crown of life.’ Notice inserted 11 November 1941 (newspaper not known). ‘PEARSON: Stephen Hetley, 2nd Lt’, 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, killed in action, Bois de Gauche, Dec. 1 1917. Also of his twin brother, Corporal John Strachan Pearson, 2nd New Zealand Machine Gun Section, died of malaria, on Active service, in Egypt, Nov 4, 1918. The elder sons of the late Henry John Pearson of Bramcote, Notts, and the late Mrs Pearson, of the Garden House, Ightham, Kent. ‘Their name liveth for evermore.’