Cpl 17895 Arthur Mervyn

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• D.O.W Friday 3rd May 1918
• Commemorated at: Haringhe Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: III.D.27

Arthur Mervyn was born in Liverpool on 26th February 1895 the son of Thomas Mervyn and his wife Mary Jane (née Rowe). He was baptised on 03^rd April 1895 at St. Benedict Church, Everton. At that time his parents were living at 11 Creswick Street, and his father’s occupation was a ship steward. 

According to Merchant Crew Lists around 1887-72, his father Thomas Mervyn was born in 1851 in Enniskerry, Co.Wicklow. He was taken on as a cook with the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company in Liverpool, working on the SS Trafalgar and barque Eblana.  

His parents married as Anglican on the 3rd June 1873 in Uppingham, then Rutland, Thomas was aged 24, father John Mervyn, whilst Mary Jane(b.Greenwich) was aged 22 and from Everton, father Edward Rowe. 

The only Thomas Mervyn found on crew lists of the right age (per burial record) was born in Enniskerry, County Wicklow, south of Dublin, and taken on as a cook with the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company in Liverpool in 1872.  His mother was born in Greenwich.  They married in 1873 in Uppingham district, between Peterborough and Leicester.  Although his father is not found at home on any census, he is listed on electoral rolls at 11 Creswick Street from 1878.

Arthur was the youngest of nine children, all born in Liverpool:  Walter Thomas, born in 1874, Emma Clarissa 1875, Alice Maud 1877, Edith Mary 1880, William Henry 1882, Eveline Constance 1884, Florence 1888 (died at age 2), and Frederick, born in 1891. 

Although his father is not found at home on any census, he is listed on electoral roll at 4 Garabaldi Terrace, Everton where his family reside in 1881. Mother Mary J. aged 30 a ship stewards wife, children Walter Thomas 7 a scholar, Emma Clarissa 5 a scholar, Alice Maud 3, and Edith Mary 1. 

On the 1891 census the family are living at 11 Creswick Street.

Mother Mary J., aged 40, children Walter Thomas 17 an office boy, Edith Mary 11 a scholar, William H. 8 a scholar, Evelyn 6 a scholar, and Frederick 3mths. 

His father died in Toxteth Park Workhouse in 1899 aged 51, when Arthur was four years old. He was buried on the 31st May 1899 at West Derby Cemetery.  

In 1901 his widowed mother, 50, is head of household at 11 Creswick Street, with six children at home.  His five older siblings are all working, Arthur is 6.  His eldest brother Walter is married with a family. Frederick, 10, is found in the Liverpool Seamen’s Orphan Institution.  Arthur also spent some time in the Orphanage, but how long is not known, as his name is found on their WW1 Roll of Honour. 

His mother drops off the electoral roll after 1903, but no death record can be found. 

In 1911 Arthur is living with five of his siblings at 50 Eastlake Street, Everton. Emma 35, is head of household, Edith, 31, is a cardboard box maker, William, 28, is a labourer in an oil cake mill, Evelyn, 25, is a cigarette packer, and Frederick, 20, and Arthur 16, are shorthand typists.    

Arthur later lived with his siblings Emma, Edith, Eveline, and Frederick, at 106 Hamilton Road, Everton.

Arthur was employed as a shorthand typist prior to the outbreak of war with the Dublin Steam Packet Company.

He enlisted in Liverpool on the 11th September 1914 in the 13th Battalion (it is written as K.L.C.B. but looks like K.L.C. 1 3) as Private 17895 in the 19th Battalion, The King's Liverpool Regiment, giving his brother Fred, of 28 Ullswater Street as next of kin. On his enlistment he gave his age as 19 years and 180 days. He was 5’ 4” tall, weighed 127lbs, 38” chest, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. He gave his religion as Church of England. He sailed to France on 29th December 1915. 

Arthur was subsequently posted to the 19th Battalion as Private 17895.

His disciplinary record shows that on the 17th May 1915, Arthur was charged with neglect of duty as a mess orderly and then breaking out of barracks whilst under arrest, he was confined to barracks for seven days. 

He was promoted to unpaid Lance-Corporal on 18th April 1917 and promoted to Corporal on 10th April 1918. 

On 02nd May 1918 during the German offensive, Arthur was wounded and transferred to a Casualty Clearing Station and died of his wounds the following day on the 03rd May 1918.

He now lies in Haringhe Military Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"With Christ which is far better always remembered by sisters and brothers" 

CWGC communicated with Miss E. Mervyn, 106 Hamilton Road, Everton, regarding his headstone. 

Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery, 7 miles northwest of Poperinghe, Belgium. Bandaghem, like Dozinghem and Mendinghem, were the popular names given by the troops to groups of casualty clearing stations posted to this area during the First World War.  The cemetery site was chosen in July 1917 for the 62nd and 63rd Casualty Clearing Stations, and burials from these and other hospitals (notably the 36th Casualty Clearing Station in 1918) continued until October 1918. 

Arthur earned his three medals. 

Edith signed for his personal belongings in September 1918:  Religious book, Book (novel), Primus stove, Razor in case, Electric lamp, Note book. 

She received further items in October 1918:  Letters, Photographs, Cards, Purse, 2 Fountain pens, Cigarette lighter, Form M.T./393A, 1 Button. 

Edith received his Army effects and a War Gratuity of £18.  The pension card, in the name of Miss E. Mervyn, 106 Hamilton Road, shows that a pension was refused.

Liverpool Evening Express 6th May 1919 

MERVYN - In loving memory of Arthur, 19th K.L.R., died of wounds. May 3, 1918.  

(Always remembered by his sisters and brothers, 106 Hamilton Road. Rest in the Lord.) 

Arthur is remembered on the War Memorial stones which are believed to have belonged to St Cuthbert's Church, Burleigh Road South, Everton until the church was demolished in the late 1960's. They are at St George's Church, Everton for safekeeping. He is also commemorated on the Liverpool Seamen’s Orphanage Roll of Honour, with 50 other boys who lost their lives in the Great War (Roll now held in St. Nicholas Church).

His brother William served with the Royal Engineers.  

Frederick enlisted in the 7th K.L.R., was transferred to the 13th, then the Labour Corps, was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, and ended the war with the Royal Engineers. He died in 1925 at the age of 33.

We currently have no further information on Arthur Mervyn, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.