People on board

PEARSON, Richard

Richard Pearson was born in 1891 in Workington, Cumbria to Sarah Pearson, a single mother. In the 1901 census Sarah and nine year old Richard were living with her widowed mother in the family home in James Street in Workington. Both Sarah and her mother Isabella gave their occupation as Laundress. Isabella Pearson died in 1908 and in 1910 Sarah married Charles Millar Johnstone, an Iron Founder from Scotland. In the 1911 census Charles, Sarah and Richard were living in James Street, Richard giving his occupation as Fireman.

Richard enlisted in the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry but it is not known when. In October 1918 he was with the 2/1st Regiment, a Training and Reserve unit, which had moved to Ireland in May 1918 and was based in Tralee. Presumably returning home on leave he travelled on RMS Leinster on the 10th. He did not survive the sinking nor was his body recovered. His name is recorded on the Hollybrook Memorial in Southampton and on the Workington Roll of Honour. An In Memoriam notice appeared on the 8th Of October 1920 in the Workington Star and Harrington Guardian.