Luger P08 Pistol: Captain Collison Clapham Pearson, 53 Battalion AIF

The Luger pistol is a recoil operated, locked breech, semi automatic, striker fired handgun. The unique locking system consists of two tilting bars and a short moving barrel. The pistol has a frame mounted manual safety at the left side of the receiver.

This pistol is believed to have been confiscated in Belgium by Collison Clapham Pearson from a surrendering German officer on the Western Front.

Pearson was born in London in 1890 and was a photographer on enlistment in the Australian Imperial Force on 17 June 1915 at Blackboy Hill, Western Australia. He embarked for overseas service aboard HMAT Demosthenes on 23 July as a private with 28 Infantry Battalion Reinforcements. Arriving in the Middle East Pearson was transferred to 53 Battalion on 4 March 1916 at Tel el Kebir and became quartermaster and honorary Lieutenant the following week.

Pearson embarked from Alexandria on 19 June to join the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front. He arrived in Marseilles on 28 June and was promoted Quartermaster and honorary Captain on 12 March 1917.

Pearson was recommended for a Military Cross in September 1918. The recommendation for the award reads:

‘During the period 25th February to 17th September 1918 this Officer in his capacity of Quartermaster has rendered most valuable Services to the Battalion. On every occasion on which the Battalion has taken part in operations Captain PEARSON has made himself personally responsible for seeing that hot meals, dry rations and water were supplied to the Front Line. To do this he has, on numerous occasions, under most adverse conditions and under heavy shell fire, personally brought up rations to the Line.

This was nowhere better instanced than during the operations at MORLANCOURT in July 1918 and PERONNE in September 1918, when he brought up the rations under the most trying conditions, and under exceptionally heavy shell fire, which on several occasions caused casualties amongst the transport animals and personnel.
Captain PEARSON has been Quartermaster of the Battalion since its formation in February 1916; ever since then he has served continuously with the Battalion, and has at all times shown exceptional ability in the performance of his Duties.

It is solely due to this Officers untiring energy, skill and personal bravery, that this Battalion has been supplied daily with hot food throughout all the operations in which it has taken part since its arrival in France.’

The Military Cross was promulgated in the King’s New Year’s Honours List 1919 and in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 23 May.

Pearson was granted leave (Non Military Employment) from 12 March to 12 September 1919 to take up a professional photography placement at Wykeham Studios. Non Military Employment leave was granted after the Armistice for soldiers to undertake a particular placement within industry. Pearson returned to Australia aboard HMAT Orvieto on 1 November and was discharged from service on 4 February 1920.