Serjeant, 45th Battalion the Royal Fusiliers
Born: 16 July 1897, Penarth, Glamorganshire
Citation: 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.
(London Gazette Issue 31613 dated 23 Oct 1919, published 21 Oct 1919.)
