Arthur Pearson

A Deck Hand with H.M.S. Attentive III, Arthur died on 5th of November 1917 at the age of 33. 

Arthur was born at Barsham, Beccles, Suffolk, on 6 July 1884, a son of Harry and Margaret Pearson. In 1891 his family lived at Fox Farm, Willingham, Suffolk, and by 1901 they were living at Flixton Marsh Road, Blundeston, and Arthur was a farm labourer.

In 1914 Arthur married Alice Mildred Burgess. They lived at 165 Saint Margaret’s Road, Lowestoft.

On 24 February 1915 Arthur joined the Royal Naval Reserve and served on the trawler Brothers. On 16 March 1917 Arthur was admitted to the Royal Naval Infirmary, Deal, to be treated for pulmonary tuberculosis, and he was then on the books of H.M.S. Attentive III. He was invalided from the service on 5 October 1917 and granted a disability pension. 

Arthur died on 5 November and his cause of death was acute phthisis following gassing, with his condition ‘commencing on (naval) duty’.