Pte 51728 Arthur Merrills

• Age: 26
• From: Ardwick, Manchester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Wednesday 11th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Gouy-en-artois Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: A.17

Arthur Merrills was born in Ardwick, Manchester, in 1891, the youngest son of Arthur Merrills and his wife Mary Elizabeth (née Cooper).  Both born in Retford Nottinghamshire, his parents married in Birmingham in 1880 and had seven children:  Harold Cooper born in 1882, Mary Constance 1884, and Ettie Adeline 1886 (died infancy), were born in Retford, and Wilfred, 1888, was born in Liverpool.  After Arthur’s birth the family moved to Pendleton, Lancashire, where Florence Bertha was born in 1894, then to Swinton, Lancashire, where Fidelia Dorothy was born in 1897.

In 1901 the family, with six children, is living at 5 Ethel Terrace, Levenshulme. Father Arthur is aged 42, a lithographer’s traveller b.Retford, mother Mary is aged 48 b.Retford, children Harold Cooper 19 a lithographer’s traveller b.Retford, Mary Constance 17 b.Retford, Wilfred, 12 b.Liverpool, Arthur 9 b.Ardwick, Florence Bertha 6 b.Pendleton, and Fidelia Dorothy 4 b.Swinton.  

His eldest brother Harold married in 1902 and emigrated to Australia and his married sister May emigrated to Canada in 1910. 

By 1911 they are at 210 Claremont Road, Moss Side, Manchester.  His father, 50, is a traveller (printing), his mother is 57. They advised that they had been married for 31 years, and had 7 children, 6 of whom have survived. There are four children still in the household; Wilfred, 22, is a fruiterer’s salesman, Arthur 20, is a hairdresser’s assistant, Florence, 17, and Dorothy, 14, help at home.  

 

Shortly after the census, in May 1911, his brother Wilfred also emigrated to Canada.  Some time after the census, the family moved to Liverpool, where his sisters Florence married in 1915, and Dorothy in 1917.  His father is found on electoral rolls at 9 Nicander Street from 1918-1921. 

 

Arthur enlisted in Liverpool as Rifleman 4349 joining the 6th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment (Liverpool Rifles). He embarked from Folkestone-Boulogne on 27th July 1916 reaching the 24th Infantry Base Depot on 29th July, he proceeded to the 17th Battalion K.L.R. on 06th August 1916 and was posted to the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 51728 on 05th September 1916. Based on the amount of the War Gratuity, Arthur served just over a year, enlisting in February/March 1916.

He died of wounds on 11th April 1917. The 20th Battalion War Diary on the 12^th April 1917 at Henin-Sur-Cojeul records casualties during these operations: Other Ranks: Killed, 25. Wounded, 90. Missing, 4. All killed were collected and buried in Brigade Cemetery opposite the crucifix at Henin-Sur-Cojeul. Presumably Arthur was sent initially to 98 Field Ambulance and after assessment by Motor Ambulance Convoy to 96 Field Ambulance at Guoy but sadly passed away. 

Arthur now rests at Gouy-En-Artois Communal Cemetery Extension in France. 

The extension was made in April 1917 at the time of the Allied advance from Arras. Two further burials took place in June and July 1917, and five in March 1918. Gouy-en-Artois Communal Cemetery Extension contains 44 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also four German war graves. The extension was designed by Charles Holden.

 

An In Memoriam notice was placed in the Liverpool Echo on 12th April 1918 perhaps by a sweetheart:

“In loving memory of Rflmn. Arthur Merrills, who died of wounds received in action April 11, 1917.  (He loved honour more than he feared death. “Peace, perfect peace”.) - Eva.”

 

Arthur’s Army effects and a War Gratuity of £5-10s went to his mother at 9 Nicander Road, Liverpool. Their address was later changed to c/o Mrs. Leadbetter, Stamford, Niagara Falls, Ontario.  This is the address of his married sister (Fidelia) Dorothy, who emigrated to Canada in 1920.

 

His brother Wilfred attested in October 1915 in Toronto, served overseas in a Pioneer battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, including time in hospital in Liverpool, near his parents.  He returned to Canada in February 1919.

 

His parents and married sister Florence emigrated to Canada in 1921, to join their daughter Dorothy in Toronto.  Sadly, Arthur’s two medals (British War Medal and Victory Medal) were returned (which happened when the next of kin could not be traced).  It is not known whether his parents later applied for his medals.  His parents died in Canada, his mother in 1923 and his father in 1926.  

Arthur was commemorated on the Memorial at Central Hall Methodist Mission in Liverpool.


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

Grateful thanks are extended to Kevin Shannon the author of the book The Liverpool Rifles for providing details of Arthur's service with the 6th Rifles.