Pte 29782 Edward Halley Mercer

By the time of the 1911 Census Edward is at the Royal Marine Depot, Walmer Kent.  – Royal Marine records show he enlisted on 04th July 1910 as Private 15082 in the Marines Light Infantry, Plymouth division

For the rest of the family the 1911 Census records that at 9 Redvers Drive, Orrell Park his mother Catherine, now a widow, is residing with her married daughter Jane Rennie, son David Mercer and grand-daughter Catherine Margaret Rennie.  

When he enlisted in Liverpool in the Royal Marines on 04th June 1910 he gave his age as 17 years, 5 months, and 10 days. He apparently added a year to his age; his record shows he forfeited 204 days’ service from enlistment until his birthday in 1911 (cause: under age).  He gives his occupation as clerk and his religion as Congregationalist.  He is described as being 5’ 6 and three-quarters on enlistment (and 5’ 8” on discharge), with a dark complexion, dark brown hair and eyes, and scars on his neck. He gives as next of kin his mother Catherine, at 41 Kingfield Road, Orrel Park, Liverpool.  His character is described as very good, and his ability as satisfactory.  He was discharged (by purchase) on 09th May 1914. 

 

Ted enlisted in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 29782. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he served over a year, enlisting in about May 1915.

On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

Ted shipped to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915.

He was killed in action at Trones Wood between 10-12/07/1916 aged 22.

The remembrance of Trones Wood in July 1916 to those who passed through it is of a noisome, horrible place, of a tangled mass of trees and undergrowth which had been tossed and flung about in frightful confusion by the shells of both sides. Of the ghastly dead which lay about in all directions, and of DEATH, lurking in every hole and corner with greedy hands ready to snatch the lives of the unwary. The place was Death trap, and although the attacks were made with great determination,   the presence of snipers who could not be detected and often fired into the backs of our men made the clearing of the wood impossible.

His body was not recovered from the battlefield and his name is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial in France. 

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.

Ted’s name appeared in the list of Missing published in the Liverpool Post & Mercury on 7th September 1916, but on 26th September he was counted among the “previously reported Missing, now reported Killed”.

 

His mother placed a notice on 19th September:  

“July 11, killed in action, previously reported missing, Private Edward H. (Ted) Mercer, King’s (Liverpool Regiment), the dearly-beloved and youngest son of Mrs. Mercer, Redvers Drive, Aintree, and the late Robert Mercer.”

 

Another notice states that before the war he was employed by Messrs. S. Perry & Co., Liverpool.

 

Ted earned his three medals.

 

His mother Catherine received his Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £4. The pension card, showing her address as 48 Vernon Gardens, Seven Kings, Essex, does not indicate that a pension was awarded. His mother died in Essex in 1920, aged 64.