Story:
Ralph Pearson was born in Halifax, Yorkshire, on 3rd January 1891 and baptised at St. James Church, Halifax, on 25th January 1891, the son of Joseph Wild Pearson and Annie Pearson (née Barker).  (Ralph's mother died in 1904 and his father re-married a Sarah Hitchens in Halifax in 1905.) Ralph lived his early life in Halifax until, by 1911, the family had moved to Shaftesbury, Dorset and had taken over an existing Bookseller, Printer and Stationers business at 11 High Street, Shaftesbury.    Ralph was assisting in the business when he enlisted with the East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry as a Private (Service No.1170).  He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 24 May 1917 and joined the 2nd/4th Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment and, on further promotion to Lieutenant, joined the 4th Battalion of the King's African Rifles.  He had served in the Egyptian Theatre from 10 Nov 1915 and on his discharge was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. 

He had married Dorothy Maud Rowell in Kingston-upon-Hull, East Riding, Yorkshire, in 1917 and they went on to have two children.  The 1921 Census indicates that he was living at Hornsea House, Hornsea Parade, Holderness Road, Sculcoates, Yorkshire, where he worked as a Stationer's Assistant in Hull. By 1927 he had returned to 11 High Street, Shaftesbury, where he was also Registered in 1939 as a Printer and Stationer.    His death was recorded in the Poole, Dorset, Registry in 1963.  His brother John (b.1898) also served in the conflict, with the Royal Engineers.