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I am looking for anybody who had a Grandfather or a Great Uncle who fought with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in Galipoli, Palastine, & Mesopotania between 1914 & 1920

My interest is my Great Uncle Captain Christopher Pearson who joined up in August 1914 with a certain 2nd Lt Bill Slim. later of Burma Fame. Unfortunately my uncle was killed by the Goyn Kurds on August 4th 1919. He was negotiating with the northern tribes the delivery of grain. It's strange to think that many British soldiers died in what is now Iraq between 1918 and 1923 in very similar circumstances to today. Do we ever learn form the past.

However I digress. If any body has any relations, stories, & photos of this period and regiment I would be truely grateful

Regards

Ian C Pearson

Ian, assume you have google searched this regiment? Loads of stuff on there.
Jan

Thanks Janet

I have searched this regiments history but I was trying another avenue. You never know what might just pop up, somebody might just have an ancestor who was in the same regiment.

Regards

Ian

Have you googled "royal warwickshire regiment forum"? There seem to be a few "chat" entries which might serve you better.
Jan

His service record may be available at Kew. You can search their online Catalogue using just initial and surname. Do 2 searches - 1 in ref WO339 and 1 in WO374. Trouble is there are probably lots of C Pearsons and Regiment isn't specified although rank sometimes is.

Hi Michelle

I thought I might find somebody who was in the Regiment. Unfortunately your Uncle and Grandfather were in a different Battalion (7th) and probably served in France.

I did come across a Guy called Kevan Darby whos Grandfather was in the 9th Battalion the same as my Uncle. One of the photos my Gt Uncle took was of his Grand father who was a sergeant in the regiment. I know others had cameras as I have a phot with at least 3 others shown lying on the ground nearby while the troups were resting in a wadie in Mesopotania.

Kevan sent this of my Uncle.

Alfred Christopher Pearson had just taken his degree in Theology at Oxford when the First World War broke out. He abandoned plans to be a missionary and was commissioned into the 9th (Service) Royal Warwickshire Regiment. This was one of Kitcheners “New Army” battalions and consisted almost entirely of volunteers. Lieutenant A. C. Pearson landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula on the 13th July 1915, and was wounded in action on the 10th August at the Farm, Anzac. Pearson was promoted Captain in 1916 and, after recovering from his wounds, he rejoined his Battalion in Mesopotamia in June 1916. by December the British had succeeded in pushing the Turks back and by March 1917 Baghdad was taken. The Warwickshire's attacked Turkish positions and, despite heavy shrapnel, captured objectives and took 100 prisoners. Casualties were heavy with 10 Officers and 140 other ranks being killed or wounded. Amongst the wounded Captain Pearson. Once again. during his convalescence Pearson had time to ponder over his aim in life and he decided to apply for a transfer to the Governments Political Department. He had decided, while at school in North Yorkshire, he would become a missionary and political duties in Mesopotamia would be an introduction to the work. So he learned the language and customs of the Arabs. Pearson was appointed Assistant Political Officer and Deputy Military Governor of Basra on March 26th, 1918. he became respected by many Kurds and other tribes and, in December 1918, he was transferred as Political Officer to Zakho where a small garrison had been deployed. In March 1919 the Goyan tribe appealed to Alfred Pearson to pay them a visit with a view to their enrolment in the list of tribes within the sphere of British military occupation. They were perhaps the wildest of the tribes with whom Pearson had to deal. The valley in which they dwelt was particularly inaccessible. The courageous 26 year old Political Officer was, however, devoted to his task and had already shown great skill in negotiations with Kurdish and other tribes. He wanted to reassure the tribesmen of British intentions and, in return for supplies of seed and grain, he hoped to persuade them to stop plundering their neighbours. That would constitute an important step towards pacification of the whole region. But on his way to the rendezvous accompanied by a Kurdish orderly and a few men of the Goyan, Pearson was ambushed and killed on 4th April 1919. The loss was a salutary lesson in dealing with Kurdish tribes without adequate support. Following the murder an attempt was made to penetrate the area with a military escort. But a large number of tribes had joined against the British. The whole area had become unstable. A fellow Political Officer told the family that the only reason for the murder of Captain Pearson was a fanatical hatred of a Christian. Captain Pearson's body was recovered and buried in North Gate War Cemetery, Baghdad.

However it's not my uncle who I am interested in but those who he served with in the 9th battalion.

To find more info on your grandfather I found the Birmingham Forum quite useful and the WW1 Forums.

I am sure I have seen books on the 7th Battalion RWR but none of the 9th.

I wish you luck

Kindest Regards

Ian Pearson

hi ian, i have been looking through my book on the kenilworth fallen of the great war,for any one who was in the 9th rwr,i have found one whose parents came from kenilworth.the soldier that diedwas --leonard harry green,private 16644- he was killed by a sniper in mesopotamia on the 18th.1.1917. age 23 years. he is buried at -amara war cemetery Iraq.(xx1v.b.16) he was the son of david & lousia green of 50 spring lane kenilworth. there is a book about the history of the regiment,written by charles lethbridge kingford -published -military publishers p.o.box 186 doncaster south yorkshire dn4 ohn. they may be able to tell you about a book on the 9th. regards michelle

That's brilliant Michelle

Just what I was looking for. I will have to find out from Kevan Darby about private Green may be his Grandfather was his sergeant.
I have never heard of the book.
Thanks for the tip.

Many Many thanks

Ian Pearson

My Great Uncle RSM E.J Pratt is also on the Kenilworth War Memorial as RSM J Pratt, he died at the Menin Road September 20th 1917, I too have the book and Lander War about the 10th Service Battalion RWR. what I don't have is a photo of Edward Joseph or on of the 10th..

Colette