The following season, he was joint top goalscorer, sharing the honour with Welsh international colleague Wilson Jones.
A qualified electrical engineer, he was in a reserved occupation during the war, and was available to represent his country in 15 wartime and victory international matches.
Chosen to play against England at Birmingham's home ground, St Andrew's, in 1941, Dearson missed a penalty; Wales lost 2–1.
He still played another couple of years of non-league football with Birmingham Combination side Nuneaton Borough and Bilston.
After retiring from the game he worked for BSA and British Leyland, and died in Sheldon, Birmingham at the age of 76.