John Pearson VC

Name: John Pearson

Conflict: Indian Mutiny

Gazetted: January 26, 1859

Service: Army

Place/date of birth: Leacroft, near Leeds, Yorkshire/January 19, 1825

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Private (later Sergeant)

Date of bravery: June 17, 1858

London Gazette citation [joint citation]:

8^th Hussars. No. 861. Private John Pearson.

Selected for the Victoria Cross by their companions in the gallant charge made by a squadron of the Regiment at Gwalior, on the 17th of June, 1858, when, supported by a division of the Bombay Horse Artillery, and Her Majesty’s 95th Regiment, they routed the enemy, who were advancing against Brigadier Smith’s position, charged through the rebel camp into two batteries, capturing and bringing into their camp two of the enemy’s guns, under a heavy and converging fire from the Fort and Town.

(Field Force Orders by Major-General Sir Hugh Henry Rose, G.C.B., Commanding Central India Field Force, dated Camp, Gwalior, 28th June, 1858.)

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: N/A

Place/date of death: Bruce County, Ontario, Canada/April 18, 1892

Grave/memorials: Eastnor Township Cemetery, Lion’s Head, Ontario, Canada

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased at auction, Morton & Eden, London, 2004

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum