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Frank Andrews Pearson

Identity

  • Title
  • Forenames
    Frank Andrews AWMM
  • Surname
    Pearson AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • RNVR 7197 AWMM
    • NZ66 AWMM
    • NZ4537 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    7 August 1914 AWMM DunedinOtago AWMM
    Dunedin, New Zealand AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Thelma Gladys Pearson AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Pre 1 November 1940 AWMM Married AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
  • Campaign
  • Armed force / branch
    Navy AWMM
  • Service number
    • RNVR 7197 AWMM
    • NZ66 AWMM
    • NZ4537 AWMM
  • Military service
    3 years with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) Otago Division AWMM
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 25 June 1940 AWMM
    Age 26 AWMM
    Turner/Civilian AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Mr Pearson joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve on 25 June 1940 in Dunedin and served with the Otago Division. His official number at this time was RNVR 7197. Later in 1940 he transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) as an Engine Room Artisifer (ERA) and his official number was RNZN 66 (later changed to RNZN 4537).

    In 1941 Mr Pearson was posted to the new cruiser HMS TRINIDAD at Devonport, England and the ship was commissioned a month later. He served on the Trinidad for a year before it was sunk in July 1942. During this time the ship was engaged on North Atlantic Patrol and two Russian convoys.

    On the second convoy they were engaged in battle with three German destroyers and suffered a direct shell hit. This hit only damaged the Trinidad but did not put it in danger of sinking. Shortly afterwards however they were struck midship by their "own" torpedo which had malfunctioned in the cold Arctic water. This blew an enormous hole in the port side and vented out the starboard side. The ship was coxed into dry dock at Murmansk and temporary repairs were made.

    The ship then headed to the UK accompanied by three destroyers but after 24 hours under attack from aerial enemy bombardment they were ordered to abandon ship due to the damage and fire. This was in July 1942.

    Based on information provided by Mr F A Pearson in a note to the Armoury Manager, October 1998. AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References

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