Name
Ernest Alfred Pierson
Circa 1878
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/08/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Driver
140308
Royal Horse Artillery
'T' Battery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ZUYDCOOTE MILITARY CEMETERY
1.A.11
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Ernest was born around 1877 or 1878 in Hitchin and christened on 15 March 1878 in St. Mary’s Church, Hitchin . His parents were Alfred and Mary Pierson.
In 1881 the family were living in Tileshouse Street, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Alfred (33) and Mary (30) with Alfred working as a groom. Their children were: Charles F. (7), Mary A. (5), Ernest Albert (3), Edgar and Eleanor - both 8 months old.
In 1891 the family were living in Tilehouse Street, Hitchin, now given as 75. Present were both parents: and, with Alfred working as a coachman domestic. Their children were: as listed above, except Mary and Edgar were missing. New siblings were George Wallace (4) and Lena M (1).
The family were still living at 75 Tilehouse Street, Hitchin In 1901. Both parents were present with Alfred now a groom and gardener domestic. The children present were Eleanor, George Wallis and Lena. The reason for Ernest’s absence was because he and enlisted into the Army.
Ernest enlisted into the Royal Artillery in Woolwich on 30 January 1900 when he was 20 years old and had been working as a groom. This appears to be at odds with his true age as he was recorded as 3 in the 1881 census. He was described as fit, 5’ 5” tall, 144lbs, with a fresh complexion, dark brown eyes and black hair. He became Driver 4226 in the Royal Horse Artillery on that date. Posted for training on 26 February and transferred on 10 December 1900 and arrived in South Africa and the Boer War on 19 January 1901 where he served until 10 June 1902 and arrived back in the UK on 4 July 1902 where he served until 29 January 1912 leaving with 8 years and 155 days service and entering the Army Reserve. His service records confirm his father as Alfred, his mother as Mary, both at 75 Tilehouse Street, Hitchin, Herts., with an elder brother Charles and a younger brother Wallace.
In 1911 the family had moved to 72 Tilehouse Street, Hitchin and the census recorded that his parents had been married for 41 years with 9 children, of whom 3 had died.
After he left the Army and the war he had been employed by Mr Francis Lucas J.P.
Apparently he volunteered, but was told he wanted until he was called and later he was recorded as born in Hitchin and enlisting in Huntingdon, under the Military Service Act.
Wartime Service
Some records have his service number as 117181, however when hen died he was Regimental Number 140308. He died suddenly during the night of the 25th August 1917 of heart disease (natural causes), while he was in France. He may have been in No. 36 Casualty Clearing Station which was situated in Zuydcoote.
He was buried in Plot l, Row A, Grave 11 in the Zuydcoote Military Cemetery, east of Dunkirk in France.
After his death Major T. H. Montefiore R.H.A. wrote: "Driver Pierson died suddenly of heart disease on the night of August 25th. His comrades in the Battery were sad at the happening, as he was an excellent fellow and they sympathise with the relatives in their great loss."
Additional Information
After his death £9 4s 2d pay owing was authorised to go to his father, Alfred, on 7 November 1917. Later, a war gratuity of £3 10s was authorised to be paid to him on 18 November 1919.
His pension cards record his mother, Mrs Mary Pierson of 38 Tilehouse Street, Hitchin, as his next of kin. A pension appears to have been refused
Probate was obtained by his widow on xx 1918, with the value of his effects £x xs xd.
The CWGC, SDITGW and medal cards all confirm his service number as 140308, however the pension cards record 146308
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
