Ernest James Pearson

A Private with the 8th Battalion, Ernest died on 5th of February 1917 at the age of 30. 

Ernest was born at Blundeston in 1886, a son of David and Harriet Pearson. In 1891 his family lived at High Street, Blundeston, and by 1901 at Lound Road, Blundeston. In 1911 they were still living at Lound Road and Ernest was a milkman on a farm. 

Ernest enlisted in the Army at Bury St. Edmunds. He joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, service number 33226. He was posted to France and joined the 8th Battalion. 

On 2 February 1917 the 8th Battalion moved into tranches opposite the Hohenzollern Redout. During the next three days the battalion was harassed by sniper fire and trench mortar fire. The battalion’s war diary for 5 February notes that the trench mortar fire had ceased, but seven men were wounded, and one man, Ernest, killed.