Gordon's Group
Staff Sergeant Gordon Thew Pearson BEM Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
The Man Little detail is known about Gordon Thew Pearson except he was born on 20th August 1919 in Pancras, London, it seems his mother may have been unmarried at the time as she had the same maiden name.
Gordon enlisted into the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Territorial Army in November 1937 as a Private with service number 5383145. Following the outbreak of World War II in September 1939 he was embodied into the 4th Battalion Ox and Bucks Territorial’s, who were sent to France in January 1940 as part of the British Expeditionary Force.
The 4th Battalion became a part of the 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division and following the German invasion of northern Belgium in May 1940 the BEF withdrew into France and the areas around Dunkirk, but 4th Oxs and Bucks became encircled by German forces near Watou and finally overwhelmed. It would have been at this point that Gordon was taken Prisoner of War and sent to Stalag XXB in Malbork, Poland with PoW number 10902 and where he remained for the duration of the war, probably being sent out to work as a labourer on local farms and saw mills.
It is possible that he may have been involved in the long march during 1945 and it was during the time in Poland and Germany that he met his future wife Erika Dutkiewicz or Puschnerat who was from Isherlon in the North Rhine-Westphalia Region.
Once repatriated to the UK at the end of the war he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, War Medal 1939-45 and the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ listed in Army Order 119 of 1946. He was demobilised but re-enlisted into the TA in August 1947 with a new service number 21047114 and during the first quarter of 1948 Married Erika in Oxford, having one son Ralph who was born during the first quarter of 1952.
Gordon enlisted into the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Territorial Army in November 1937 as a Private with service number 5383145. Following the outbreak of World War II in September 1939 he was embodied into the 4th Battalion Ox and Bucks Territorial’s, who were sent to France in January 1940 as part of the British Expeditionary Force.
The 4th Battalion became a part of the 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division and following the German invasion of northern Belgium in May 1940 the BEF withdrew into France and the areas around Dunkirk, but 4th Oxs and Bucks became encircled by German forces near Watou and finally overwhelmed. It would have been at this point that Gordon was taken Prisoner of War and sent to Stalag XXB in Malbork, Poland with PoW number 10902 and where he remained for the duration of the war, probably being sent out to work as a labourer on local farms and saw mills.
It is possible that he may have been involved in the long march during 1945 and it was during the time in Poland and Germany that he met his future wife Erika Dutkiewicz or Puschnerat who was from Isherlon in the North Rhine-Westphalia Region.
Once repatriated to the UK at the end of the war he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, War Medal 1939-45 and the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ listed in Army Order 119 of 1946. He was demobilised but re-enlisted into the TA in August 1947 with a new service number 21047114 and during the first quarter of 1948 Married Erika in Oxford, having one son Ralph who was born during the first quarter of 1952.
Gordon continued his TA service and was awarded a further three clasps to his Efficiency Medal, the Coronation Medal in 1952 and a Certificate of Outstanding Service in Jun 1962. His service number was changed again to 21015117 and on Saturday 12th June 1965 he was awarded the British Empire Medal (Military Division) for services in the Territorial Army whilst based at the TA Centre, Marston Road in Oxford, the recommendation made by his Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel P E Gerahty.
The citation for Gordon's BEM read:
'Colour Serjeant PEARSON joined the TA in November 1937 and is still serving having completed 27 years service as a volunteer last November.
During his long service he has always carried out administrative and instructional duties in an exemplary manner, and has been prepared to undertake tasks additional to those expected of his rank and appointment whenever the need arises.
He has been particularly zealous in encouraging the young volunteer to learn his duties and there is little doubt that the example he has set of loyal devotion to duty throughout his long service has been responsible for the excellent standard of administration and morale in his company and for the very satisfactory percentage of volunteers in his company who re-engage each year.
He has also done much to further the Territorial cause in this area amongst civilian organisations and has personally persuaded several excellent men to join as volunteers. He is a model of what the Territorial soldier should be – loyal, enthusiastic and ready to turn his hand to anything asked of him'.
Gordon was awarded further clasps to his Efficiency medal in 1953, 1959 and 1965, the last being notified in list 68 of 1965.
He lived at 233 Campbell Road, Cowley in Oxford and worked at Oxford University Press as a Bookbinder. He was also very fond of his Labrador dog, Rusty and drove a lime green Mini. His hobby was building model ships.
Gordon died on 23rd May 1985 and cremated at Headington Cemetery and is recorded in the book of Remembrance.
'Colour Serjeant PEARSON joined the TA in November 1937 and is still serving having completed 27 years service as a volunteer last November.
During his long service he has always carried out administrative and instructional duties in an exemplary manner, and has been prepared to undertake tasks additional to those expected of his rank and appointment whenever the need arises.
He has been particularly zealous in encouraging the young volunteer to learn his duties and there is little doubt that the example he has set of loyal devotion to duty throughout his long service has been responsible for the excellent standard of administration and morale in his company and for the very satisfactory percentage of volunteers in his company who re-engage each year.
He has also done much to further the Territorial cause in this area amongst civilian organisations and has personally persuaded several excellent men to join as volunteers. He is a model of what the Territorial soldier should be – loyal, enthusiastic and ready to turn his hand to anything asked of him'.
Gordon was awarded further clasps to his Efficiency medal in 1953, 1959 and 1965, the last being notified in list 68 of 1965.
He lived at 233 Campbell Road, Cowley in Oxford and worked at Oxford University Press as a Bookbinder. He was also very fond of his Labrador dog, Rusty and drove a lime green Mini. His hobby was building model ships.
Gordon died on 23rd May 1985 and cremated at Headington Cemetery and is recorded in the book of Remembrance.
The Story The group of medals awarded to Gordon Thew Pearson were acquired from E-Bay during June 2014. They were of interest because of the unusual combination, three clasps to the Efficiency Medal and some paperwork, and the fact that the vendor was in contact with Gordon's Son, Ralph, who agreed to provide details of his father to the successful bidder.
ollowing receipt of the medals, no contact was made with Ralph until three months later in August 2014, when it was established he had sadly died himself only two weeks previously! A very brief biography was pieced together from Ancestry.uk and National Archives, clearly the potential for further research seemed diminished.
However, a few weeks after his death, Ralph's wife did make contact and kindly provided the much sought after picture of Gordon, which now puts a face to the 'The Man Behind his Medal" and other useful detail to enable the biography to be expanded. In June 2019, Mrs Pearson made contact again as she had found three more excellent pictures of Gordon which she sent, and they now form an important part of the Pearson archive.
In October 2023 contact was made by Gordon’s Grandson, Simon who kindly offered Gordon’s miniature medals, engraved tankard and some PoW booklets to add to the archive and ensure they were all kept together for posterity.
A meeting was arranged in Banbury and together with the additional items Simon added a little more personal detail to Gordon’s biography
ollowing receipt of the medals, no contact was made with Ralph until three months later in August 2014, when it was established he had sadly died himself only two weeks previously! A very brief biography was pieced together from Ancestry.uk and National Archives, clearly the potential for further research seemed diminished.
However, a few weeks after his death, Ralph's wife did make contact and kindly provided the much sought after picture of Gordon, which now puts a face to the 'The Man Behind his Medal" and other useful detail to enable the biography to be expanded. In June 2019, Mrs Pearson made contact again as she had found three more excellent pictures of Gordon which she sent, and they now form an important part of the Pearson archive.
In October 2023 contact was made by Gordon’s Grandson, Simon who kindly offered Gordon’s miniature medals, engraved tankard and some PoW booklets to add to the archive and ensure they were all kept together for posterity.
A meeting was arranged in Banbury and together with the additional items Simon added a little more personal detail to Gordon’s biography
Gordon Pearson’s Miniature Medals and engraved tankard
PRESENTED TO
C/SJT. G.PEARSON
BY
WO’s & SJT’s
OXF BUCKS (T.A.)
1967
PRESENTED TO
C/SJT. G.PEARSON
BY
WO’s & SJT’s
OXF BUCKS (T.A.)
1967
The Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in World War II Following the outbreak of World War II The British rapidly sent the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) to France in September which included the 1st Ox and Bucks as part of 11th Infantry Brigade attached to 4th Infantry Division. They were joined by the Territorial 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion and the 4th Ox and Bucks in January 1940, all of which eventually became part of the 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division, with the 1st Ox and Bucks part of the 143rd Infantry Brigade and the 4th Ox and Bucks and the 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion part of the 145th Infantry Brigade.
The Germans launched their invasion of the Low Countries on 10 May 1940, shattering a period of the conflict that was known as the Phoney War. The German invasion of northern Belgium—where the BEF was located—was a diversion with the main attack being through the poorly-defended Ardennes forest. The BEF withdrew west towards the Dendre River after the Dutch Army had surrendered, and then withdrew further towards the Scheldt River by 19 May.
he British force, having given a good account of themselves in the defence of the Scheldt, eventually withdrew into France, moving towards the area around Dunkirk. The evacuation of British forces back to Britain began on 26 May, it was known as Operation Dynamo (26 May-3 June). The 1st Ox and Bucks took part in the Battle of the Ypres-Comines Canal (26–28 May) and were eventually evacuated from Dunkirk, having suffered more than 300 casualties. The other battalions took part in the defence of Cassel, Nord until 29 May where they eventually attempted a breakout, although the 4th Battalion was encircled by German forces near Watou and was finally overwhelmed.
The 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion took part in the battle for Hazebrouck which commenced on 27 May where they came under heavy attack from all directions by the German 8th Panzer Division and managed to delay the German advance. The 1st Bucks were eventually ordered to fight their way back to Dunkirk; only 10 officers and approximately 200 men of the battalion reached the UK.
The Germans launched their invasion of the Low Countries on 10 May 1940, shattering a period of the conflict that was known as the Phoney War. The German invasion of northern Belgium—where the BEF was located—was a diversion with the main attack being through the poorly-defended Ardennes forest. The BEF withdrew west towards the Dendre River after the Dutch Army had surrendered, and then withdrew further towards the Scheldt River by 19 May.
he British force, having given a good account of themselves in the defence of the Scheldt, eventually withdrew into France, moving towards the area around Dunkirk. The evacuation of British forces back to Britain began on 26 May, it was known as Operation Dynamo (26 May-3 June). The 1st Ox and Bucks took part in the Battle of the Ypres-Comines Canal (26–28 May) and were eventually evacuated from Dunkirk, having suffered more than 300 casualties. The other battalions took part in the defence of Cassel, Nord until 29 May where they eventually attempted a breakout, although the 4th Battalion was encircled by German forces near Watou and was finally overwhelmed.
The 1st Buckinghamshire Battalion took part in the battle for Hazebrouck which commenced on 27 May where they came under heavy attack from all directions by the German 8th Panzer Division and managed to delay the German advance. The 1st Bucks were eventually ordered to fight their way back to Dunkirk; only 10 officers and approximately 200 men of the battalion reached the UK.
Stalag XX-B, Malbork, Poland Marienburg Stalag XXB or Stalag 20B Marienburg Danzig was a German POW camp in World War II. Located near Marienburg, it was originally a hutted and tented camp with a double boundary fence and watchtowers.
British, Poles and Serbs were held here in 1940.
An administration block including a hospital was erected in the latter part of 1940, mainly by prisoner labour. By 1941 a theatre had been built. POWs were sent out to work in nearby farms, sawmills, factories, goods yards and cutting ice on the river Nogat.
British, Poles and Serbs were held here in 1940.
An administration block including a hospital was erected in the latter part of 1940, mainly by prisoner labour. By 1941 a theatre had been built. POWs were sent out to work in nearby farms, sawmills, factories, goods yards and cutting ice on the river Nogat.
This page is dedicated to the memory of Gordon's Son Ralph F Pearson 1952-2014. Requiescat in Pace.
Medal Details:
- British Empire Medal: 21015117 S/SGT.GORDON T.PEARSON.OXF.BUCKS.T.A.
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Coronation Medal 1953: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Medal: 5383145 PTE. G.T.PEARSON,. OXF & BUCKS
This page last updated 4 May 24
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