| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information
Harry Mercer was born in Howden the 26 Jul 1891 and baptised the 15 Aug 1891 the son of Richard Kirkus and Sarah Mercer. The family lived in Wressle where Richard worked as a coachman/domestic servant, they moved to Howden where he worked for the North Eastern Railway as a porter. They lived at Bridgegate and had nine children. By the time of Richard’s death in 1907 the family had moved to Beverley, living in Far Grove, off Norwood. Harry and his older brother, Walter born 1885, worked as tanner’s labourers. Harry’s mother married William Robinson in 1911.
Harry enlisted in 1915, not serving abroad until 1916. He joined the 6th Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment, moving to the 1st Battalion, rising to the rank of Acting-Corporal. He married Elizabeth Smith,born 1891, on 9 Sep 1915 at Beverley Minster. Their home was Grammar School House, Queensgate. Their first child Gladys was born the 11 Feb 1916.
Harry served with the 1st on the Somme in 1916 and at Arras in spring 1917 in the Battles of the Scarpe. The 1st were then switched to Belgium and took part in actions on Passchendaele. In the Spring of 1918 they were heavily involved in the German offensives on the Lys in which British troops were forced to retreat.. They were involved on Wytschaete Ridge in the First Battle of Kemmell on 17 to 19 Apr 1918 and then the 2nd Battle of Kemmell, early on 25 to 26 Apr 1918 where they “were practically wiped out…” One source notes that the “survivors were 29 of all ranks, out of a trench strength of about 500 that went into line on 22 April .” Harry was taken prisoner at this time, though initially reported as missing. He spent the rest of the war at Friedrichsfeld POW Camp. He was awarded the War and victory Medals.
After the war Harry became a builder’s labourer, in 1939 living at 24 Minstermoorgate. He had two further children, Alfred born 1921 and Hilda 1924. Harry died in 1959 and was buried at Queensgate Cemetery on 4 Apr 1959. His wife was also buried there in 1962.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |