THE VICTORIA CROSS AND CAMPAIGN MEDALS AWARDED TO SERGEANT SAMUEL PEARSE, 45TH BN, ROYAL FUSILIERS, HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL IN CANBERRA.
11 June 2017


( select to enlarge )
Medal entitlement of Sergeant Samuel Pearse,
45th Bn, Royal Fusilies

  • Victoria Cross
  • Military Medal ( MM )
  • 1914-15 Star
  • British War Medal ( 1914-20 )
  • Victory Medal ( 1914-19 )


The Victoria Cross and campaign medals awarded to Sergeant Samuel Pearse, 45th Bn, Royal Fusiliers, have been acquired by the Australian War Memorial. The Pearse VC group had previously been on loan to the AWM, but will now go on permanent display in the AWM's Hall of Valour.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 23 October 1919 ], Emtsa, North Russia Relief Force, 29 August 1919, Sergeant Samuel George Pearse, 45th Bn, Royal Fusiliers.

For most conspicuous bravery, devotion to duty and self-sacrifice during the operation against the enemy battery position north of Emtsa ( North Russia ) on the 29th August 1919.

Serjeant Pearse cut his way through the enemy barbed wire under very heavy machine-gun and rifle fire and cleared a way for the troops to enter the battery position. Seeing that a blockhouse was harassing our advance and causing us casualties, he charged the blockhouse single-handed, killing the occupants with bombs.

This gallant non-commissioned officer met his death a minute later, and it was due to him that the position was carried with so few casualties. His magnificent bravery and utter disregard for personal danger won for him the admiration of all troops.


For the award of the Military Medal

[ London Gazette, 12 December 1917 ], Ypres, France, 28 September 1917, Private Samuel George Pearse, 2nd Australian Machine Gun Corps, Australian Imperial Force

For courage and resource on outpost duty, and services as a runner during fighting east of Ypres.


Samuel Pearse was buried in the Obozerskaya Burial Ground, Russia, and it is believed his burial marker no longer exists. His name is included on the Archangel Allied Cemetery Memorial.

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Iain Stewart, 11 June 2017