Pearson, Alastair Stevenson "Jock"

Date of birth:: June 1st, 1915 (Glasgow, Scotland)
Date of death:: March 26th, 1996 (Gartocharn/Dunbartonshire, Scotland)
Service number:: 62792
Nationality:: British

Biography

Alastair Stevenson Pearson was born on June 1st 1915, the son of a Glasgow grain merchant. He was educated at Kelvinside Academy and Sedbergh, but when he left in 1932, during the depression, the only job he could find was at his uncle's bakery.
At that time he joined the Territorial army by enlisting in the 6th Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry. On the outbreak of war the battalion was given the job of guarding vital installations, such as cranes on the docks.
In January 1940 Pearson was sent to France on a month's attachment to the South Lancashire Regiment.
The Regiment trained in Scotland and Dorset but when the Germans invaded France in May 1940 they were not at first involved. However they soon found themselves involved in a second British Expeditionary Force after the first had been evacuated from Dunkirk. The second BEF set off in great secrecy in early June 1940, landing at Cherbourg.
The battalion encountered the Germans on June 14th, but was withdrawn and evacuated rapidly when Petain asked the Germans for an armistice. Pearson was left behind in Cherbourg to immobilise the transport while the rest of the battalion sailed off. When his task was completed he managed to find a berth home on a Scottish tramp steamer.
Pearson then wishing for a more active role in the war, volunteered for the Special Boat Service. To his surprise he was informed by General Richard 'Windy' Gale that he would first have to become a parachutist.
He was posted to the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment and in 1942 landed with the 1st Army in North Africa. After heavy fighting, the Germans were defeated at Gue Hill.
Pearson displayed a remarkable flair for anticipating German moves. Having made his troops dig trenches on hard rocky ground, he then gave the order to abandon them. They assumed he had gone mad until they saw the Germans shell and then attack the positions. Baffled at finding the trenches empty the Germans began wandering about in undisciplined confusion, making a perfect target for the attack the Paras launched.
After North Africa came Sicily. However, just before reaching Syracuse, Pearson had a severe bout of malaria.
Evacuated to North Africa, he was offered a staff post. By now, with three DSO's, it looked as if his active war was over, but fortunately he met 'Windy' Gale again by chance, and was offered a battalion in 6th Airborne Division.
After six months training Pearson parachuted into Normandy on the night of June 5th 1944. In the course of fighting Pearson rescued a group of wounded soldiers from a crashed Dakota.
Unfortunately malaria had now achieved what the Germans could not, and he was graded unfit for further active service.
He became CO of a reserve battalion at Beverley, Yorkshire, declined the offer of a regular Commission and was demobilised in 1945.
A civilian once more, Pearson went into farming at Gartocharn, near Loch Lomond.
Still an enthusiastic Territorial, he raised a battalion in Glasgow, the 15th (Scottish Volunteers ) Battalion and commanded it.
In 1947, Pearson was a member of the Executive Committee of the Princess Louise Scottish Hospital for Disabled ex-Servicemen, and he maintained close contact with this hospital, later known as the Erskine Hospital, throughout his life. In 1951, he was made a Deputy Lord-Lieutenant for Glasgow. He continued to command the 15th Battalion for six years, after which he was made Training Colonel and Deputy Commander of the 44th Independent Parachute Brigade (TA).
In 1953 he was made and OBE, followed by an CB in 1958. In 1956 he was appointed as Aide de Camp to the Queen.
His association with the Brigade continued until 1963, when he was made Honourary Colonel of his old unit, now named 15 PARA (SV). He continued in this capacity until 1977, but resumed it in 1983. In 1975 he left Glasgow but became Deputy Lord-Lieutenant for Dumbartonshire, four years later, Deputy was dropped from this title, and he was also made Keeper of Dumbarton Castle. In december 1980 he was appointed as Knight in the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem.
In 1983, Pearson's health dipped dramatically and he was taken ill with a serious stomach disorder, however he recovered and lived for a further decade. He died in 1995 at the age of 80.
His life and military career was written down in the book "A Fierce Quality: The Fighting Life of Alastair Pearson DSO & Three Bars, MC" by Julian James.

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Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Lieutenant-Colonel
Unit:: 8th Parachute Battalion, 3rd Parachute Brigade, 6th Airborne Division, British Army
Awarded on:: May 4th, 1943

Citation:
"On 31st January 1943, Lieutenant-Colonel Pearson led two of his platoons in a raid on Djebel Mansour (Tunisia) during which, in spite of intense machine gun and mortar fire, he succeeded in over-running an enemy Company position, capturing prisoners and killing or wounded the majority of the other occupants, he gained valuable knowledge for a contemplated assault at a later date.
On 3rd February 1943, he led his Battalion on to the same feature, which was entirely captured and held, until severe casualties and a strong counter-attack forced their withdrawal.
Throughout the whole operation this officer fearlessly led his Battalion and, by his example and utter disregard for his personal safety, was an inspiration to all ranks. By his skilful handling and courage he was able to evacuate all his men. On one occasion he, single-handed, destroyed an enemy machine gun post which was causing severe casualties."

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel
Unit:: 1st Parachute Battalion, 1st Parachute Brigade, 1st Airborne Division, British Army
Awarded on:: May 18th, 1943

Citation:
"For most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Tamera (Tunisia) on 8th March 1943. The enemy attacked in considerable force the positions held by this officer's Battalion. Completely disregarding his personal safety, when one of his companies had been forced back, he personally led the counter-attack and completely restored the situation. In the course of the day his Battalion was attacked on three separate occasions. Without hesitation and under intense fire he organised counter attacks and by his brilliant leadership and bravery on all occasions, restored the position, killing large numbers of the enemy and forcing some 150 to give themselves up. Attacked again on 10th March he personally led his Battalion HQ staff of clerks and cooks against the enemy who was attacking from the rear of his Battalion HQ. Inspiring all with his great bravery and leadership he completely defeated all efforts of the enemy to penetrate his positions, personally killing many of the enemy and capturing further prisoners. During the night 23/24 March he led his Battalion to the attack on a most important feature in the DJ ABIOD sector (DK DAWRA), conducting this most difficult operation with such skill that the whole position was soon in our hands with slight losses to ourselves, but with heavy losses to the enemy.
His bravery and leadership at all times under intense fire have been of the highest order and an inspiration to all ranks of his battalion."

Second DSO awarded as a bar for on the ribbon of the first DSO.

Military Cross (MC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Captain (temporary Major)
Unit:: 1st Parachute Battalion, 1st Parachute Brigade, 1st Airborne Division, British Army
Awarded on:: September 23rd, 1943
Awarded for:: Operation Torch

Citation:
"During the night 23/24 November 1942, when his Commanding Officer was severely wounded, Major Pearson assumed command of his Battalion and successfully completed the Operation. He continued to command his unit throughout the subsequent fighting and by his leadership and coolness under fire set an example of the highest degree. On Dec 11th, when the enemy attacked his sector, he, under heavy machine gun fire, organised and personally led a most successful counter attack destroying the enemy and capturing a number of prisoners. The conspicuous gallantry shown on this and other occasions has been an inspiration to all."

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel
Unit:: 1st Parachute Battalion, 1st Parachute Brigade, 1st Airborne Division, British Army
Awarded on:: December 23rd, 1943
Awarded for:: Operation Husky

Citation:
"Lieutenant-Colonel Pearson was in command of the 1st Parachute Battalion when it took part in the Airborne attack at Catania on the night 13/14 July 1943. He and his Battalion were widely scattered, but he collected all the men he could find and led a successful attack on the main objective. Throughout the battle, which included counter attacks, he displayed courage and leadership of the very highest order. When his Battalion was withdrawn from the battle, he remained with 151 Infantry Brigade in order to give them the benefit of his local knowledge, which he usefully employed during an attack on the following night."

Third DSO awarded as second bar for on the ribbon of the first DSO.

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel)
Unit:: 8th Parachute Battalion, 3rd Parachute Brigade, 6th Airborne Division, British Army
Awarded on:: February 1st, 1945
Awarded for:: Operation Overlord

Citation:
"Lieutenant-Colonel Pearson was dropped at 0050 hrs on D Day, 6th June 1944. He was immediately wounded by rifle fire in the left hand. Disregarding his wound he organised his depleted Battalion, some 180 strong, into two company groups and successfully engaged the enemy at Bures and Troarn enabling the bridge blowing parties to carry out their tasks with complete success. On the evening of D Day he was forced to undergo an operation for the removal of the bullet from his hand but immediately resumed command of the Battalion on its conclusion.
On the night of D plus 1, he personally led a patrol of 40 men some 4 miles behind the enemy lines to evacuate wounded reported at the village of Bassenville. This necessitated the double crossing of the River Dives by dinghy. The patrol, as a result of his skilful leadership, was entirely successful and eight wounded men were rescued. On D plus 2 he personally supervised the operation of a strong fighting patrol which inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy in Troarn. On the night of D plus 6 he personally led a patrol of some 70 men to the village of ROUCHEVILLE and engaged the enemy position to the North of the village while his RE detachment successfully cratered the only remaining road for lateral communication left to the enemy in the district. On D plus 9 the enemy attacked the LE MESNIL position in strength. Lieutenant-Colonel Pearson conducted the battle personally through the whole attack and was tireless in his visits to the forward companies. When the enemy, supported by self-propelled guns, started to penetrate between the forward positions, he moved forward with the counter attack force handling his own men and 17 pounder self-propelled gun with such success that the enemy infantry and self-propelled guns were forced to withdraw in some disorder. Throughout the day he moved amongst his troops under artillery, heavy mortar and machine-gun fire and his conduct was an inspiration to the whole Battalion. By his brilliant handling of the Battalion during the first week of the operation he was able to hold off a numerically superior enemy from the vital high ground at the South end of the BOIS DE BAVENT."

Fourth DSO awarded as third bar for on the ribbon of the first DSO.

Efficiency Medal / Territorial Decoration

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant-Colonel
Awarded on:: September 3rd, 1948

Sources

- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36000 published on the 30 April 1943
- Supplement tot The London Gazette Issue 36018 published on the 14 May 1943
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36180 published on the 21 September 1943
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36297 published on the 21 December 1943
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 36917 published on the 30 January 1945
- Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 38394 published on the 31 August 1948
- The Pegasus Archive
- The Herald Scotland
- Special Forces Roll of Honour