Alastair Pearson - Second World War

Second World War

Pearson was attached to the South Lancashire Regiment and served briefly in France during January 1940. On 8 June 1940, after the end of Operation Dynamo, he returned to France with the 6th HLI. He fought in the Battle of France with the Second British Expeditionary Force. He was evacuated on 17 June as part of Operation Ariel.

On its return to the United Kingdom, the British 52nd (Lowland) Division was assigned to defend the coast. In 1942 Pearson volunteered to join a special forces unit and on 1 August he joined the Parachute Regiment, part of the Army Air Corps. He was promoted to the rank of Major and served as second-in-command of 2nd Battalion, 1st Parachute Brigade. Within a fortnight, Pearson was transferred to 1st Battalion by its commander Lieutenant Colonel Eric Down. Pearson was promptly demoted by Down after a rioutous night on the town. Pearson was promoted to the rank of Major for the second time before becoming second-in-command of 1st Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel James Hill.

In October 1942, the 1st Parachute Brigade was sent to Tunisia to participate in Operation Torch. Pearson assumed command of 1st Battalion when Hill was badly wounded on 23 November. For his actions while under heavy fire, Pearson was awarded the Military Cross. At the age of twenty-seven, Pearson was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and given command of the 1st Parachute Battalion. Pearson was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his actions in late January and early February 1943. He was awarded a second DSO for actions during the Battle of Tamera in March.

Pearson was awarded a third DSO for his contribution to the Invasion of Sicily. In July 1943, the 1st Parachute Brigade was assigned to capture Primosole Bridge in Sicily, ahead of Bernard Montgomery's 8th Army. Due to high winds, intense flak, and poor flying, less than 20% of the 1,900 men of the brigade landed on target. However, the bridge was captured and Pearson organized a defence. German forces counter-attacked the following day and the paratroopers were forced to withdraw. Pearson helped to recapture the bridge by guiding a battalion of the Durham Light Infantry in an attack on the flank of the German infantry holding the bridge. After the Sicilian campaign, Pearson recuperated from an attack of malaria.

During the summer of 1944, the commander of the new British 6th Airborne Division, Richard Nelson Gale gave Pearson command of the division's 8th Battalion, which had been formed from the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Pearson immediately began preparing the battalion for the Battle of Normandy. On the night of 5 June 1944, the battalion departed England for France. On landing, Pearson was shot in the hand but continued to command. The 8th battalion went on to destroy several bridges over the River Dives and then take up defensive positions in the Bavent Wood, east of Pegasus Bridge. Pearson was awarded a fourth DSO in February 1945 for his contributions during the Battle of Normandy.

On his return to England in September 1944, Pearson surrendered command of the 8th Battalion due to ill health.