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