Lieutenant-Colonel Barclay Pearson
8th Battalion, Royal Scots

During this period this officer continually moved about his battalion under intense art and mortar fire. His energy and determination altered the entire course of the operation and prevented much hard fighting and heavy casualties, not only amongst his own battalion but also for the rest of the brigade.

(D.S.O. citation, 10 May 1945)

Born on 13 January 1912 in Dorchester, Dorset, Barclay Andrew Pearson was commissioned into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1932. He served as adjutant with the 1st Battalion, which later fought in the Western Desert and Crete in 1941. In May 1942, the 15th Battalion was re-designated the 2nd Battalion, replacing the unit destroyed in the Battle of Singapore. Pearson served as major when it deployed to Normandy with the 15th Division in June 1944.

Born on 13 January 1912 in Dorchester, Dorset, Barclay Andrew Pearson was commissioned into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1932. He served as adjutant with the 1st Battalion, which later fought in the Western Desert and Crete in 1941. In May 1942, the 15th Battalion was re-designated the 2nd Battalion, replacing the unit destroyed in the Battle of Singapore. Pearson served as major when it deployed to Normandy with the 15th Division in June 1944.

In November 1944, he was assigned to take command of 8th Battalion, Royal Scots, succeeding Lieutenant-Colonel P.R. Lane-Joynt who had been wounded the previous month. He earned the D.S.O. for actions in mid-February 1945 and led the battalion under the end of the war in Europe.

He later served as a staff officer with NATO. He commanded the 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders from 1954 to 1957, including a tour of duty in British Guiana. He retied at the rank of brigadier in 1960 and died on 12 October 1997 in Rumbling Bridge, Scotland.