Charles Cann Pearson (1886-1918)
Hartlepool man served as a petty officer in the Royal Navy on HMS Thetis
Charles Cann Pearson was born on 28 March 1886 in Hartlepool. His father was local ship riveter Joseph Campion Pearson (1854-1936). His mother was Emily Jane Pearson nee Cann (1862-1908), a Hartlepool mariner’s daughter. His parents had 13 children, made up of seven boys and six girls. In 1891 the Pearson family lived at 34 Ramsay Street, Hartlepool. By 1901 they had moved to 29 Robinson Street, Hartlepool. Charles was working as a telegraph messenger in 1901.
Charles joined the Royal Navy aged 16 on 1 January 1903. He was initially rated as a boy 2nd class with the service number 220920. He became a boy 1st class on 2 April 1903 and an ordinary seaman on his eighteenth birthday. His naval career progressed when he became an able seaman on 1 July 1905 and leading seaman on 5 March 1912. At the time of the 1911 census Charles was onboard HMS Implacable.
Charles was rated as a petty officer on 1 January 1917. On the night of 23 April 1918 he was reported missing in operations when he was serving on the ex-light cruiser HMS Thetis. This vessel was used as a blockship in the Raid on Zeebrugge designed to stop German U-boats leaving the port. His body was not recovered for burial and he was honoured on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Charles Cann Pearson was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One. He was mentioned in despatches in the London Gazette, 23 July 1918, page 8595.
Birth date: 28-Mar-1886
Death date: 23-Apr-1918
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: 34 Ramsay Street, Hartlepool (1891 census)
29 Robinson Street, Hartlepool (1901 census)
HMS Implacable (1911 census)
Employment: Telegraph messenger (1901 census)
Blacksmith (1903 service record)
Family: Parents: Joseph Campion Pearson (1854-1936), Emily Jane Pearson nee Cann (1862-1908)
Siblings: Polly Pearson (b 1880), Joseph Pearson (b 1882), James Pearson (b 1883), Emily Francis Pearson (b 1884), Edith Pearson (b 1888), Lenor Pearson (b 1890), George Pearson (b 1891), William Cann Pearson (b 1893), Fred Pearson (b 1896), Ada Pearson (b 1898), John Pearson (b 1901), Janet Pearson (b 1903)
Military service:
220920
Royal Navy
Boy 2nd class, 1 January 1903
Boy 1st class, 2 April 1903
Ordinary seaman, 28 March 1904
Able seaman, 1 July 1905
Leading seaman, 5 March 1912
Petty officer, 1 January 1917
HMS Thetis
Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal
Mentioned in despatches, London Gazette, 23 July 1918, page 8595
Memorial(s): Chatham Naval Memorial
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham
