Tom Harry Finch Pearse

Tom Harry Finch Pearse was commissioned in the East Lancashire Regiment on 9 May 1885. His pre-war career was uneventful. It included two periods as adjutant but no active service and he had not passed staff college. It is therefore a little difficult to understand why he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiment as its CO on 18 September 1912.

He was still in command when the war broke out. 2nd Cheshires were stationed at Jubbulpore and did not return to England until December 1914, when they joined 84th Brigade, part of the new Regular 28th Division, at Winchester. 28th Division deployed to the Western Front in January 1915.

Pearse was promoted brigadier-general and given command of 84th Brigade on 9 September, but was not retained when 28th Division was re-deployed to Egypt in the middle of October. He was 51.

Brigadier-General Pearse held no further commands during the war and retired from the army on 1 November 1919.