Big Red Book
Celebrating television's This Is Your Life
Alastair PEARSON CB, DSO and 3 Bars, OBE, MC, TD, DL, ADC (1915-1996)
THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Colonel Alastair Pearson CB, DSO and 3 bars, OBE, MC, TD, DL, ADC, Highland Light Infantry Officer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre.
Alastair was one of the most highly regarded soldiers of the Parachute Regiment and the British Army who served in the Second World War. He joined the 6th Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry and served briefly in France during January 1940. He fought in the Battle of France with the Second British Expeditionary Force, and was evacuated as part of Operation Ariel.
In 1942 he volunteered to join the British Army's airborne forces and joined the Parachute Regiment and was sent to Tunisia to participate in Operation Torch. For his actions while under heavy fire, he was awarded the Military Cross. At the age of twenty-seven, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and given command of the 1st Parachute Battalion.
Alastair was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his actions in late January and early February 1943. He was awarded a second DSO for actions during the Battle of Tamera in March. A third DSO was for his contribution to the invasion of Sicily, and a fourth in February 1945 for his contributions during the Battle of Normandy.
After retiring from the Army, returned to his bakery in Glasgow, and later took up farming.
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Series 7 subjects
Max Bygraves | Mario Borrelli | Alastair Pearson | Brian Rix | Derek Dooley | Elizabeth Twistington Higgins | Sandy MacPherson