Brigadier Alastair "Jock" Stevenson Pearson, CB, DSO & Three Bars, OBE, MC, TD, DL (1 June 1915 – 29 March 1996) was a baker, farmer and one of the most highly regarded soldiers of the Parachute Regiment and the British Army who served in the Second World War.

[4] In July 1943, the 1st Parachute Brigade was assigned to capture Primosole Bridge in Sicily, ahead of Bernard Montgomery's British Eighth Army.

Due to high winds, intense flak, and poor flying, less than 20% of the 1,900 men of the brigade landed on target.

Upon landing, as part of Operation Tonga (the British airborne drops on D-Day), Pearson was shot in the hand but continued to command.

[5] On his return to England in September 1944, Pearson surrendered command of the 8th Parachute Battalion due to ill health.

He married the widow of Reginald Morgan Weld Smith (who was killed in the Battle of Britain), Joan Niven.

[11] On 31st January 1943, Lieutenant-Colonel Pearson led two of his platoons in a raid on Djebel Mansour (Tunisia) during which, in spite of intense machine gun and mortar fire, he succeeded in over-running an enemy Company position, capturing prisoners and killing or wounded the majority of the other occupants, he gained valuable knowledge for a contemplated assault at a later date.

On 3rd February 1943, he led his Battalion on to the same feature, which was entirely captured and held, until severe casualties and a strong counter-attack forced their withdrawal.

Without hesitation and under intense fire he organised counter attacks and by his brilliant leadership and bravery on all occasions, restored the position, killing large numbers of the enemy and forcing some 150 to give themselves up.

He continued to command his unit throughout the subsequent fighting and by his leadership and coolness under fire set an example of the highest degree.

The conspicuous gallantry shown on this and other occasions has been an inspiration to all.Lieutenant-Colonel Pearson was in command of the 1st Parachute Battalion when it took part in the Airborne attack at Catania on the night 13/14 July 1943.

When his Battalion was withdrawn from the battle, he remained with 151 Infantry Brigade in order to give them the benefit of his local knowledge, which he usefully employed during an attack on the following night.Lieutenant-Colonel Pearson was dropped at 0050 hrs on D Day, 6th June 1944.

On the evening of D Day he was forced to undergo an operation for the removal of the bullet from his hand but immediately resumed command of the Battalion on its conclusion.

On the night of D plus 1, he personally led a patrol of 40 men some 4 miles behind the enemy lines to evacuate wounded reported at the village of Bassenville.

By his brilliant handling of the Battalion during the first week of the operation he was able to hold off a numerically superior enemy from the vital high ground at the South end of the BOIS DE BAVENT..Pearson was the subject of This Is Your Life in October 1961 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre.