There are references to S J Pearsall with M.B.E. (medal card) and O.B.E. (award of Royal Victorian Medal (Silver) ), so he may have been awarded the M.B.E. during the war, and the O.B.E. later on.
His medal card doesn't give a date but he was definitely awarded the 1914-15 Star, and a page on the web lists him as one of the originals:
http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/DERBYSGEN/2004-10/1097404985Another web-page lists R M S Pearsall as with the 10th Sherwood Foresters, but I think this derives from a London Gazette error (see below):
http://www.derbyshirelads.uwclub.net/Sherwoods/battalions/10bn_officers.htmI know both Steve Morse and Andrew Hesketh whose information is on these sites. I can go and check with them to see if they have any more info.
Sidney James Pearsall is in the London Gazette of 3-6-1919 where he is awarded BOTH the M.B.E. and O.B.E. as follows:
CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD.
St. James's Palace, S.W.,
3rd June, 1919. '
The KING has 'been graciously pleased on the occasion of His Majesty's Birthday, to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for valuable services rendered in connection with military operations in France: —
To be Officers of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order:—
Pearsall, T./Qr.Mr. & Capt.. Sidney James, Notts. & Derby. R.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31370/pages/6803To be Members of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order.
Pearsall, T./Qr.Mr. & Capt. Sidney James., 10th Bn., Notts. & Derby. R.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31370/pages/6809The latter M.B.E. seems to have been changed to award it Richard Montagu Stack Pearsall, whilst keeping Sidney's O.B.E. - which is at odds with the lesser M.B.E. shown on his MIC, but tallies with the later Gazette entry for the Victorian Medal.
Gazette page of revision:
CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD.
St. James's Palace, S.W.I.,
12th December, 1919.
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of valuable services rendered in connection with the war.
To be dated 3rd June 1919.
To be Members of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order:—
*Pearsall, T./Qr.-Mr. & Capt. Richard Montague Stack, Notts. & Derby. R.
* Substituted for the announcement which appeared in the London Gazette dated 3rd June, 1919, under the heading " Members"
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31684/supplements/15456R M S Pearsall seems to have served with the 10th Liverpool Regiment. I think even the revision in the later London Gazette may still be in error! His medal card shows him as a full commissioned officer (temporary Second Lieutenant and temporay Lieutenant) It shows him with the MC, and there is some narrative on an O.B.E. Later Gazette entries note RMS Pearsall as being M.B.E. and on the Staff attached from a Service Battalion of the Liverpool Regiment. There is no mention of the Sherwood Foresters.
e.g.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31799/supplements/2399I don't believe that RMS Pearsall is related, at least not closely. He seems to be a noted artist.
So, it looks like Sidney James Pearsall's Order of the British Empire award was in June 1919, but whether it was M.B.E. or O.B.E. is open to debate!
Citations were not published for O.B.E.s Wartime O.B.E. and M.B.E. awards tended to be for continous excellent service in the less combative roles in battalions or other units.
Steve.
