Looking for a home for First World War medals

TheSpec.com: Looking for a home for First World War medals
His name was Private Alfred Pearson. And he was one of more than 60,000 Canadian soldiers killed in the First World War.

Now, 96 years after the Hamilton native’s death — and one year after the passing of the last known surviving Canadian veteran from the war — his name has surfaced on eBay as part of a collection of war memorabilia including a memorial cross and memorial plaque, sometimes called a death penny.

But Dave Thomson, of St. George, is hoping to angle the material back into the hands of Pearson’s family or into a public institution collection because he feels it is the right thing to do.

For the past five years Thomson has been watching online for medals on the auction block, and then trying to alert families that the mementoes are available if they want them. So far he has managed to redirect military memorabilia of more than 500 veterans to families or museums.

He often goes to the media, hoping a story will catch the eye of a relative. In the case of Private Pearson, he knows the following:

• He was apparently unmarried.

• He was the son of Alfred and Mary Ann Pearson, of 568 Catharine St. N., Hamilton.

• He was born on Aug. 28, 1896 and died on Feb. 21, 1915 (“by sniper,” according to one online military source).

• He was with the Canadian Infantry, 2nd Battalion (Eastern Ontario Regiment) and buried at La Chapelle D’Armentières Communal Cemetery in France.

The item on eBay had a bid of $107.50 as of Wednesday afternoon, with May 9 being the final day for bids.

The memorial cross on eBay is a medal given to next of kin of Canadian military personnel killed in active service. The memorial plaque was issued by the British government to families of empire soldiers killed in the First World War. It is sometimes called a Dead Man’s Penny because it looks like a large coin, about the size of a compact disc. The soldier’s name is marked on the plaque.

The seller on eBay is also offering for sale a photo of Pearson and a picture of the gravesite, a cemetery map and other documents.

“I sure would like to see this brought back to Hamilton for local honours,” says Thomson, who searches for the medals as a hobby.

“I would really like to see his valour off the auction block.”

Thomson can be reached at 519-448-1967.