Three: Captain George Pearson, Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 12th Lancers, and afterwards Captain of Invalids at Chelsea Hospital following severe wounds received at Paardeberg

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (Lieut. G. Pearson, 1/Yorks. R.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg (Capt. G. Pearson, York. Rgt.); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, together with Middlesex Lodge masonic jewel, silver-gilt and enamels, hallmarked London 1915 (Bro. Captain George Pearson), the first three mounted as worn, contact marks, nearly very fine (4) £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Egypt and Sudan Medals 1882-1891 from the Collection of Jack Webb.

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4 officers and 9 other ranks of 1/Yorkshire Regiment received the medal with clasp for the Nile.

George Pearson was born in London on 29 September 1856, son of George Pearson Brooman, but changed his name for family reasons before entering the army. He was gazetted to the 12th Royal Lancers on 30 October 1878, but, whilst serving in India, transferred to the Green Howards on 23 June 1880, joining the 1st Battalion at Halifax, N.S., the following year. Shortly after the arrival of the battalion in Egypt in 1884, he took up duty with the newly-formed Egyptian Army, and saw service on the staff with the Nile Expedition. His services were mentioned in the following terms by Captain H. H. Settle, Corps of Kroomen: “This officer has also done good work on convoy duty, and especially latterly in the transport of troops from Dal to Akasha. He has shown great tact in the management of Kroomen.”

Two years later he rejoined the battalion, with which he went out to South Africa in 1899, and was present in the operations around Colesberg and at the battle of Paardeberg, being severely wounded in the attack on Kitchener’s Kopje by the Boers on 23 February 1900 (despatches London Gazette 4 September 1901). On being invalided home, he was shortly afterwards appointed Captain of Invalids at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, taking up his quarters there, which he retained till his death on 31 January 1927.

The group is accompanied by an original commission as Second Lieutenant, dated 19 October 1878; two War Office letters concerning a commission in the Army; 17 large format photographs, mostly taken in India whilst with the 12th Lancers, including some group photographs, and a faded portrait photograph; various regimental badges, including scarce officer’s cap badge, and related group of three miniatures.