THE VICTORIA CROSS AWARDED TO PRIVATE JOHN PEARSON, 8TH ( KING'S ROYAL IRISH ) HUSSARS HAS BEEN SOLD AT AUCTION BY MORTON & EDEN OF LONDON.
23 November 2004



( select to enlarge )

Medal entitlement of Private John Pearson,
8th King's Royal Irish Hussars

  • Victoria Cross
  • Crimea Medal ( 1854-56 )
    • 2 clasps:
    • "Balaclava" - "Sebastopol"
  • Indian Mutiny Medal ( 1857-58 )
    • 1 clasp:
    • "Central India"
  • Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
  • Meritorious Service Medal ( MSM )
  • Turkish Crimea Medal ( 1855-56 )


The Victoria Cross and other campaign medals awarded to John Pearson were sold at auction today by London auctioneers Morton & Eden for the hammer price of £78,000. The VC group was purchased on behalf of the Michael Ashcroft Trust, the holding institution for Lord Ashcroft's VC Collection and has gone on display at the Imperial War Museum's Lord Ashcroft Gallery.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 28 January 1859 ], Gwalior, Indian Mutiny, 17 June 1858, Private John Pearson, 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars.

Selected for the Victoria Cross by their comrades in the gallant charge made by a squadron of the Regiment at Gwalior, on the 17th June 1858, when, supported by a division of the Bombay Horse Artillery, and Her Majesty's 95th Regiment, they routed the enemy, who were advancing against Brigadier Smith's position, charged through the rebel camp into two batteries, capturing and bringing into their camp two of the enemy's guns, under a heavy and coverging fire from the Fort and Town.

( Field Force Orders by Major-General Sir Hugh Hentry Rose GCB, Commanding Central India Field Force, dated Camp Gwalior, 28th June 1858 ). ( Elected by the regiment ).

John Pearson was invested with his Victoria Cross by GOC Bombay Army, Lieutenant General Sir Henry Somerset, on the 18th June 1859.


John Pearson died on the 18th April 1892 and was buried in Eastnor Township Cemetery, Lion's Head, Ontario, Canada.

Following the action at Gwalior, it was decided that four Victoria Crosses should be awarded to the regiment. After a ballot, taken by their comrades and reportedly unanimous, the four men chosen to receive the VC were:

  • Captain Clement Heneage, 8th Hussars
  • Sergeant Joseph Ward, 8th Hussars
  • Private John Pearson, 8th Hussars
  • Farrier George Hollis, 8th Hussars

Acquisitions

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Iain Stewart, 23 November 2004