- Home
- About
- Medals
- Research
- Soldiers
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd (Reserve) Battalion
- 1/4th Battalion
- 2/4th Battalion
- 3/4th and 3/5th Battalions
- 1/5th Battalion
- 2/5th Battalion
- 4/5th Battalion
- 5th Battalion
- 6th (Service) Battalion
- 7th (Service) Battalion
- 8th (Service) Battalion
- 9th (Service) Battalion
- 10th (Service) Battalion
- 11th (Reserve) Battalion
- 1/12th Battalion (Pioneers)
- 2/12th Battalion
- 13th (Home) Battalion
- 14th Battalion
- 15th (Service) Battalion
- Home Service Only
- Battalion not known
- Articles
- Gallery
- Links
The case of Serjeant James Hetherington Pearson
James Hetherington Pearson was born in Hayton near Cockermouth in Cumberland in 1888 and was the eldest son of coal miner Thomas and Jane Pearson. James had one older sister, three younger sisters and three younger brothers.
The family lived at the same residence in Hayton between 1891 and 1901 but by 1911 James had moved down to Littleborough in Lancashire where he was working as a Police Constable in the Lancashire County Constabulary. On the evening of the 1911 census James and fellow-policeman, Frederick William Callow, were boarding with widow Emma Jane Heginbottom and her 24 year old daughter Ada Elenor Heginbottom at 3 Travis Street in Littleborough.
On 28th March 1912 James Pearson and Ada Heginbottom were married at the Holy Trinity Parish Church in Littleborough.

Holy Trinity Parish Church in Littleborough
James’ Army service records have not been located but he probably enlisted not long after war was declared. He joined the 10th Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and was promoted to Serjeant and based on his previous service was appointed a military policeman within the Battalion. The Battalion moved down to Eastbourne in Sussex to begin their training with other elements of 22nd Division preparing to be sent overseas for war service.
It was at Eastbourne on 25th February 1915 that he was involved in an unfortunate motor incident resulting in the death of Lily Goble. The Globe newspaper reported that same day;
Lily Goble, 24, a barmaid, was killed by being knocked down by a motor cycle ridden by a soldier on the Grand Parade, Eastbourne today. The soldier was rendered unconscious.
The Western Daily Express publishing on 15th March 1915;
At the resumed inquest at Eastbourne , on Friday, on Miss Lily Goble, temporary barmaid at the Royal Hotel who was killed by a motor cycle ridden by Sergeant James Hetherington Pearson of the 10th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, evidence was given that the cycle was being ridden at great speed along the sea front, and the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against Pearson.
Pearson was taken to hospital in a military ambulance and spent the next fortnight suffering from concussion. He estimated he was traveling between 15 and 20 miles an hour. The Rev. Trevor Basil Wood, Vicar of St. John’s, Fitzroy Square, London gave evidence for the defence who said that he thought one of the girl’s clothes had got caught in the machine. Returning the manslaughter verdict the jury added that the “speed of motor-vehicles in Eastbourne was dangerous to the public.”

The Grand Hotel Eastbourne with an early Char-a-banc in the foreground
Records from HMP Wandsworth show that James Hetherington Pearson was charged with manslaughter on 13th March 1915 for the death of Lily Goble of 110 Portland Road, Hove, barmaid at the Royal Hotel, Eastbourne, daughter of Frank Goble of Guildford, labourer, 24; knocked down on the Grand Parade. Bail was allowed.
James was bailed and a second trial took place in early July 1915. Evidence was given by Agnes Leonard, who was with Lily Goble at the time of her death. Agnes said they both left the Royal Hotel, where they were employed, to go for a walk. At eleven o’clock they left the Middle Parade for the Grand Parade. While crossing the road Agnes saw a motor char-a-banc coming and when three quarters across the road noticed a motorcycle that was “practically on to them”. Turning around she saw Lily lying in the road. When cross-examined Agnes said she and Lily were talking at the time.
A soldier, who was a taxi driver at the time of the incident in February, was near the scene and said he saw the two ladies crossing the road when a motorcycle came along at a speed between 25 and 30 miles an hour. One jumped and the other hesitated, the cycle striking her causing her to spin around. She fell on her back.
Former Eastbourne policeman, William Skinner of the Military Foot Police expressed his opinion that an accident was bound to happen from what he had seen previously.
Corporal Munroe of the Royal Engineers examined the motorcycle and opined that “had the machine been travelling at fifteen miles an hour he would have expected to have found more damage”.
A detective said he had made enquiries about the prisoners’s character – it was excellent.
Given evidence on his own behalf, James Hetherington Pearson stated he passed the char-a-banc on the near side because he wished to take a wide sweep to go around a sharp corner. When about 15 or 20 yards away he saw the young ladies, one of whom stepped back into him. Had she not done so there would have been room for him to pass.
The Rev. Trevor Basil Wood said he heard the noise of the cycle and then saw one of the young ladies go back into it. It was going faster than he should ride, but not so fast, he thought, as some motorcycles.
After a short deliberation the Jury returned a verdict of ‘Not Guilty’ and accused was accordingly discharged.
Authors Note: One newspaper article states that after his acquittal he joined the Gordon Highlanders.
James Hetherington Pearson and Ada Elenor Pearson appear on the 1955 electoral roll at 9 Newstead Crescent, Fitzwilliam, Pontefract, W. Yorks; where he died in June 1956 and was survived by Ada who died in December 1974.
Additional Information: The other police constable who boarded with the Heginbottoms in 1911, Frederick William Callow, served in the Royal Field Artillery from Gunner to Battery Quarter Master Sergeant during the war and was awarded the Military Medal (M.M.) in 1918.
Paul McCormick
Paul McCormick is the creator and administrator for the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment website. Since 2010 he has been researching the soldiers that served during the First World War and sharing their stories on his website. You can contact Paul through the website 'Contact Me' page or on Twitter and Facebook.
Latest posts by Paul McCormick (see all)
- 201553 SJT. J. W. ODDIE. L.N.LAN.R. - October 3, 2017
- The 1/12th Bn. (Pioneers) in Salonika - September 24, 2017
- 14703 SJT. J. E. TEMPLETON. L.N.LAN.R. - September 19, 2017
(This post has been visited 143 times in the last 90 days)
Related
PAGES
Home Sitemap - Website Index Roll of Honour Research Request Pending Requests Contact Us FEATURED ARTICLES A Reservist in France Diary of Thomas Ainscough M.M. Diary of a Second Lieutenant Festubert June 1915 Letters of James Craig and Benny Hobson Experiences of Gallipoli From Mons to the First Battle of Ypres 5th Bn Trench Raid at Wieltje QUICK PICKS The LNL Regimental History 1914 - 19Search British Newspapers Research WW1 Soldiers Dates of Entry
Donations
This website is run by volunteers whose time is given freely. If you would like to help us towards the costs of maintaining the website, subscriptions to research websites and visits to archives it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you to all who have supported our project
Sponsored Links
Browse 10th (Service) Battalion
- 12153 PTE. H. DAGGER. L.N.LAN.R 7 Comments
- 12638 PTE. W. HANLON. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 12641 PTE. R. STOPFORTH. L.N.LAN.R 1 Comment
- 12703 LCPL. W. H. SMITH. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 12736 PTE. J. ROSCOE. L.N.LAN.R. 1 Comment
- 12739 PTE. J. HACKING. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 12741 PTE. E. MCPARTLIN. L.N.LAN.R. 1 Comment
- 12746 CPL. T. DOWNS. L.N.LAN.R. 1 Comment
- 12774 SJT. T. CROSS. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 12784 LSJT. A. DANSON. L.N.LAN.R 1 Comment
- 12874 PTE. R. WALSH. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 12883 PTE. T. H. BAINES. L.N.LAN.R 2 Comments
- 12944 PTE. W. MOSS. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 12949 PTE. H. LEAVER. L.N.LAN.R 2 Comments
- 12976 SJT. H. P. MAKIN. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 13115 PTE. C. J. STEWART. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 13229 PTE. G. HESKETH. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 13245 PTE. T. WHALLEY. L.N.LAN.R. 1 Comment
- 13284 PTE. H. NIGHTINGALE. L.N.LAN.R 3 Comments
- 13394. SGT. W. HOLME. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 13395 PTE. A. GRAY. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 13421. PTE. W. MEE. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 13426 LCPL. J. PEAK. L.N.LAN.R 7 Comments
- 13458 CPL. F. SWALES. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 13460 CPL. W. HALLIWELL. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 13470 SJT. W. E. BUTLER. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 13530 LCPL. J. H. ADAMS. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 13588 SGT. J. ROTHERHAM. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 13693 PTE. W. LORD. L.N.LAN.R 2 Comments
- 13814 PTE. J. BILLINGTON. L.N.LAN.R 1 Comment
- 13831 PTE. A. HANRAHAN. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 13881 PTE. A. E. FISHER. L.N.LAN.R 1 Comment
- 13896 PTE. G. WOODCOCK. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 13911 PTE. T. H. TAYLOR. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 13985 PTE. R. SEYMOUR L. N. LAN. R. 0 Comments
- 13994 PTE. S. BRIGGS. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 14000 PTE. T. ATKINSON. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 14017 PTE. J. BOTTOMLEY. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 14041 CPL. G. T. WHITTLE. L.N.LAN.R. 2 Comments
- 14173 PTE. T. NELSON. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 14179 PTE. J. SWARBRICK. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 14193 PTE. T. HATCH. L.N.LAN.R 2 Comments
- 14238 PTE. J. WILLIAMS. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 15111 PTE. A. FERGUSON. L.N.LAN:R 0 Comments
- 15490 PTE. L. BIRD. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 15628 PTE. A. WISEMAN. L.N.LAN.R 2 Comments
- 15666 PTE. T. HIGSON. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 15709. PTE. T. POWER. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 15750 PTE. W. BAILEY. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 15793 CPL. T. A. HOGARTH. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 15821 WOII. E. O'HARA. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 16346 SJT. J. NUTTALL. L.N.LAN 3 Comments
- 16419 LCPL. G. ELLISON. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 16637 SJT. F. TAYLOR. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 16739 PTE. R. PENDLEBURY. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 16757 PTE. W. BILSBOROUGH. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 16762 PTE. R. CLEGG. L.N.LAN.R 2 Comments
- 16780 PTE. A. RABY. L.N.LAN.R 2 Comments
- 16915 PTE. J. R. HAYES. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 17462 PTE. J. CLARKE. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 17534 PTE. R. HALSHAW. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 17615 PTE. J. LOWE. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 18116 CPL. T. H. HOOPER. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 18995 CPL. J. WALTON. L.N.LAN.R 4 Comments
- 19574 PTE. R. DERBYSHIRE. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 19736 PTE. J. J. BARNES. L.N.LAN.R 1 Comment
- 19781 PTE. A. RIGBY. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 19812 PTE. R. GILLETT. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 200402 PTE. T. MCCUE. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 201732 PTE. H. WILSON. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 20202 PTE. C. PICKLES. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 203470 PTE. E. DALEY. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 203522 PTE. J. GREGSON. L.N.LAN.R. 2 Comments
- 203593 PTE. A. BRIERLEY. L.N.LAN.R. 2 Comments
- 2037 PTE. R. SUTTON. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 21607 CPL. C. DUNN. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 22357 PTE. J. BRETLAND. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 22405 PTE. W. MILLER. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 22501 PTE. T. JACKSON. L.N.LAN.R 1 Comment
- 22615 PTE. L. CARDWELL. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 22715 PTE. J. ROBINSON. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 22797 PTE. W. JACKSON. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 23195 PTE. H. DAWSON. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 23579 PTE. W. HELMN. L.N.LAN.R 1 Comment
- 241301 PTE. A. NUTTALL. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 24615 PTE. A. J. MOSS. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 24648 PTE. J. DOOLAN. L.N.LAN.R. 4 Comments
- 24683 LCPL. R. BLEASE. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 25307 PTE. T. BARNES. L.N.LAN.R 2 Comments
- 25413 PTE. E. A. BARKER. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 25724 PTE. F. KEEN. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 25748 PTE. H. HALL. L.N.LAN.R 2 Comments
- 25858 PTE. J. DUNN. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 27588 PTE. R. PHILLIPSON. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 27612 PTE. A. J. DAMSELL. L.N.LAN.R 1 Comment
- 27627 PTE. S. TITTENSOR. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 27639 PTE. R. BANKS. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 28739 PTE. H. MERCER. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 29717 PTE. G. H. BELLAMY. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 2nd Lieutenant Reginald Frederick Squibb 3 Comments
- 2nd Lt. Claude Arthur Stephen Bidwell 3 Comments
- 2nd Lt. Harold Stephen Boxer 1 Comment
- 32033 PTE. W. HARRISON. L.N.LAN.R. 5 Comments
- 32491 PTE. A. JELLICOE. L.N.LAN.R. 1 Comment
- 33198 PTE. J. LEAVER. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 33813 PTE. F. J. BARKER. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 33859 CPL. T. H. MAXFIELD. L.N.LAN.R 2 Comments
- 33921 LCPL. A. W. BULL. L.N.LAN.R. 0 Comments
- 34090 PTE N. S. TOWNSLEY. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 36921 PTE. G. PEMBERTON. L.N.LAN.R 2 Comments
- 3737 WO II. J. LAWTON. L.N.LAN.R 0 Comments
- 6446 SGT. W. EDDLESTON. L.N.LAN.R 2 Comments
- Captain Francis Desmond Talbot Coke 11 Comments
- Captain George William Ainsworth 7 Comments
- Captain James Arthur Gravett 2 Comments
- Captain Leo Jude 0 Comments
- Captain Richard Molesworth Dennys 2 Comments
- Lieutenant William Enoch Crossley 0 Comments
- Maj. Alexander McCallum Webster 1 Comment
- QM & Lt. J. Watkinson M.C. 2 Comments
- The case of Serjeant James Hetherington Pearson 0 Comments
- The Durham Brothers 2 Comments
- The Pitcher Brothers of Preston 0 Comments
Recent Posts
- Second Lieutenant James Albert Tinsley DCM MM
- 242529 LCPL. R. MONKS. L.N.LAN.R.
- The Royse Brothers of Bolton
- 426279 ACPL. W. H. THOMAS. R.E.
- 13509 PTE. A. FARNWORTH. L.N.LAN.R.
- 201200 PTE. T. ALMOND. L.N.LAN.R.
- 3745 PTE. W. NELSON. L.N.LAN.R.
- 23580 PTE. J. H. SHARPLES. L.N.LAN.R.
- 25872 PTE. G. A. RABY. L.N.LAN.R.
- 203806 PTE. J. ROBERTS. L.N.LAN.R.
Recent Comments
- John Francis Yates on 3941 PTE. F. J. YATES. L.N.LAN. R
- Jen Holt on Sinking of the Aragon: 30th December 1917
- J.M.Gardiner on The sinking of SS Transylvania 1917
- Bill Brierley on 203593 PTE. A. BRIERLEY. L.N.LAN.R.
- Maria Fisher. on 2872 PTE. D. MULGREW. L.N.LAN.R.
Quotes
-
What do these fellows mean by saying ‘ I’ve done my bit’? What is their ‘bit’? I don’t consider I’ve done mine yet.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ralph Hindle DSO in 1917
Officer Commanding 1/4th Battalion. Wounded twice in 1915. Killed in action at Vaucellette Farm on 30th November 1917.
-
What do these fellows mean by saying ‘ I’ve done my bit’? What is their ‘bit’? I don’t consider I’ve done mine yet.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ralph Hindle DSO in 1917
Most Viewed Posts
- Roll of Honour
- SWB Numbers
- Officers’ Service Records (TNA)
- The sinking of SS Transylvania 1917
- Warfare on Western Front
- Festubert Personal Accounts and Casualties
- Casualties of CHUNUK BAIR (6th Bn)
- The McDougall Brothers of Longridge
- WW1 Practice trenches at Penally, Tenby.
- Diary of a Second Lieutenant (1st Battalion)
- My Experiences in Gallipoli
- War Diaries: Index (TNA)
- Sinking of the Aragon: 30th December 1917
- Photo: Unknown soldier portrait
- Photo: A group of 4th Bn Soldiers
- 1/4th Bn Officers
- WW1: Victoria Crosses: The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
- WITH A RESERVIST IN FRANCE by Private Frederick Bolwell
- The diary of Thomas Ainscough 1st-4th Battalion
- The Fisher Brothers
Twitter Feed
Paul McCormick
@loyalregiment- RT @DawnMCole: An entry by two soldiers from the @loyalregiment in Clarice’s autograph book. #VAD #Nurse #HistNurse #WW1 https://t.co/0CdF7…
about 4 months ago - @PommeryOfficial A 1896 map I found of the 'Caves de L'Establissment Vve Pommery, fils & Cie' https://t.co/V357fs7P2l
about 7 months ago - @MeganEKelleher @IntBCC @CWGC I'm assuming that's a private purchase headstone, with his wife remembered too, is it?
about 8 months ago
- RT @DawnMCole: An entry by two soldiers from the @loyalregiment in Clarice’s autograph book. #VAD #Nurse #HistNurse #WW1 https://t.co/0CdF7…