Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Mervin John Harmer Lines was born on the 6th September 1896 at Petersburg, South Australia to parents Frederick John Lines and Edith Mary (nee Taylor) Lines. He was the oldest of 5 children and had 1 brother, Frederick, and 3 sisters, Greta, Ella and Gwyneth. The family remained in Petersburg (renamed Peterborough in 1917 due to anti-German sentiments) until some time before 1902 when they moved to Glenelg, South Australia.

When he enlisted at Adelaide, South Australia, on the 19th October 1917 Mervin was employed as a cleaner with South Australian Railways and had previously spent 4 years with the Senior Cadets and at the time of enlistment was serving with the 79th Infantry. He was single and described as being 5' 71/4" in height with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. He listed his parents as his NOK, they were living at 27 East Tce, Glenelg.

Mervin was initially placed with the October 1917 Reinforcements, spending time at Mitcham, South Australia, with the Railway Unit before travelling to the Recruit Depot, Broadmeadows, Victoria, on the 1st November 1917. He was appointed to the 1st Australian Light Railway Operating Company on the 8th November 1917. The next day Mervin and his unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on board the ship HMAT A15 Port Sydney. The unit disembarked at Suez, Egypt, on the 12th December then travelled to Alexandria, Egypt, where the unit embarked from the port and arrived in Taranto, Italy on the 22nd December 1917. They remained there for two weeks before travelling to Southampton, England, arriving on the 4th January 1918. While based in Southampton Mervin was promoted from Private to the rank of Sapper. 

On the 23rd February 1918 the 1st Australian Light Railway Operating Company proceeded to France leaving from Folkestone, England. The light railway was a narrow gauge rail which served as a vital connection between the main line railheads and the forward areas and came into existence because of the huge problem making and repairing stone roads to carry troops and vehicles to the front. The tracks could be prefabricated, were lighter and could be laid, ripped up and relaid as the war front changed. In 1918 the unit was based at Abberville, France in the Somme area.

On the 6th January 1919 while based at Roulers, Belgium, Mervin was granted leave and travelled to London, England. He rejoined his unit at Roulers on the 24th January 1919. Mervin became ill and was admitted to the 3rd AGH at Abberville on the 10th March 1919 and on the 13th March he was transferred to the 1st ADH Bulford, England via Havre, France arriving the following day. He was discharged from hospital on the 27th March 1919 but remained in England based at Codford No.3 Camp awaiting his return to Australia. 

Mervin embarked from England on board the ship Karmala on the 1st July 1919 arriving in Australia on the 14th August 1919 and was discharged from the AIF on the 7th September 1919.

He was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal and the 1914/15 Star.

He returned to South Australia and on the 8th February 1927 he married Eileen Mary McCann at St Marys Church, Hamley Bridge.

Mervin Lines died on the 30th April 1984.