Re: 1921 Census - Harold William Pearson b1886

[billbir]

Hi Shaun,
I cannot follow your point that because it was a government Commission they would not have had access to Army records.
“Objective: The DLC’s main role was to ensure the orderly sale or disposal of these surplus assets in a way that maximized financial returns for the government and minimized waste. This included selling off war-related materials and properties no longer needed for military purposes.” Surely they would want military expertise to ensure they obtained maximum value. The Chief Clerk would be required to provide feedback to the Comission. I think that would definitely have checked on his background. Regarding the references I agree he ight of obtained some interesting ones. I know, as I have seen it as a child, that he had a letter from Lord Grenfell who was something to do with the Church Lads Brigade and was a Field Marshal. Also his brother worked for the War Office. However, these suggestions are completely unproved and cannot be proved without access to the Comissions Employee records. Bill

[billbir]

In 1911 HWP was with a different wife - Bertha Emily. Did they divorce? In 1921 Bertha was in a household with another Pearson family member.
Or are there two HWPS born in 1886 in Forest Gate?
HWP only had one wife who was Bertha Emily nee Halls. They did not divorce and did not remarry until after his death inn 1931, presumably she would get whatever Army Pension he was entitled to. There was another HWP who was his son born 1907 when they married. Percy James Leigh Pearson was living with her and the family in 1921. He was a Civil Servant at the War Office. HWP, left his wife during the war when he met up with my grandmother while looking for billeting in Banbury. The rest is history! They had 5 further children and died aged 46 in 1931. Thanks for taking an interest. Bill

[ShaunJ]

The Chief Clerk would be required to provide feedback to the Comission

Whoa there. He was chief clerk of the Banbury Central Stores Depot number 423, not of the whole Commission.

The manager of Banbury Depot 423 was Martin John Mackey, a former Lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers.

[billbir]

Shaun thanks for that I said that he would be required to give feedback to the Commission not that he was Chief Clerk of the Commission. Sorry, if I gave that impression. How were you able to obtain details of who the Manager was? If you can obtain Employee records perhaps we could find my Grandfathers references Bill

[alan o]

Bearing in mind he was convicted of fraud it is not too great a leap that he was the sort of person who was able to lie about his past to get a job and then embellish the importance of his job.  As a former RQMS he would have the skills to be a chief clerk in a depot selling off ex-military stores.  Ironically it was selling off military stores that got him a prison sentence! 

[LizzieL]

The manager of Banbury Depot 423 was Martin John Mackey, a former Lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers.

He's quite easily found by searching the 1921 census for Employer.

[LizzieL]

In the newspaper reports of the trial, an unnamed commissioned officer was mentioned as being involved in the fraud. It was said he was said he was being dealt with by the military authorities. Perhaps this officer had some influence in HWP getting the job later.

[billbir]

Hi Lizzie,
I think that it is unlikely that a Commissioned Officer, who was under suspicion by the Military, would want to stick his neck out by giving a reference to a convicted criminal. Bill

[LizzieL]

Hi Lizzie,
I think that it is unlikely that a Commissioned Officer, who was under suspicion by the Military, would want to stick his neck out by giving a reference to a convicted criminal. Bill

Obviously we will never know the true facts, but maybe HWP took more of the blame than he should have done, so the officer got off lightly or was completely exonerated, so later gave him a helping hand in getting a new job. After all, HWP had served his time, shouldn't he be given a second chance?