Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare and emotive Second World War Defence of Hong Kong M.M. group of seven awarded to Sergeant H. V. Pearse, Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps (H.K.V.D.F.): a veteran of the Great War who had taken his discharge from the Royal Marines while serving in Tamar in 1923, he was placed in charge of ration parties and made deliveries over a wide area of the Colony - ‘at all times of the day and night and under continued bomb and shell fire’ - many of his lorries being hit in the process

Taken P.O.W. on Christmas Day 1941, he endured nearly four years as a guest of the Japanese, prior to the announcement of the award of his M.M. - on General Maltby’s recommendation - at the War’s end: one of eight such awards won by the H.K.V.D.F.

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (141 Sjt. H. V. Pearse. H.K.V.D.C.); British War and Victory Medals (PLY.18258 Pte. H. V. Pearse, R.M.L.I.); 1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, very fine and better (7) £2400-2800

M.M. London Gazette 4 April 1946. The original recommendation - submitted by General Maltby, M.C., Commanding Hong Kong - states:

‘For gallantry and devotion to duty. During hostilities this N.C.O. was in charge of a ration party and lorries. Without fail rations were delivered over a wide area of the colony at all times of the day and night and under continued bomb and shell fire. He worked without relief and on many occasions the lorries were hit. His devotion to duty in adverse and hazardous conditions was most marked.’

Harold Victor Pearse was born in Bristol in July 1898 and enlisted in the Royal Marines in July 1915. Posted to the Plymouth Division, he joined H.M.S. Benbow in August 1916 and remained similarly engaged until coming ashore in early 1918. He then joined the R.M. Brigade in France and Flanders and remained similarly employed until the War’s end.

In November 1920, after a brief period of service in the Hood, Pearse was posted to the Hong Kong naval base Tamar and it was from the same appointment that he purchased his discharge in the summer of 1923. He subsequently found employment in the Colony’s Revenue Department.

According to his P.O.W’s debrief, he enlisted in the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps on 1 December 1941, his immediate appointment to the rank of Sergeant no doubt based upon his previous experience in the Royal Marines. Following his M.M.-winning exploits later in the same month, and his capture on Christmas Day, Pearse was interned in Sham Shui Po camp in Kowloon, where his camp leader was Major Boon, R.A.S.C. His debrief states that he was specifically attached to the Camp Hospital, where many P.O.Ws died, not least in the Diphtheria epidemic of 1942.

Following his liberation in early September 1945, Pearse remained in the colony and became a Senior Revenue Inspector (Commerce and Industry). On retirement he settled in Cornwall, where he died at Redruth in September 1958; sold with copied research, including R.M. service record and P.O.W. record.