MERCER, Allan
| Service Number: | 8428 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 September 1915, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 6th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Crystal Brook, South Australia, 10 September 1895 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Norwood High School |
| Occupation: | Mechanic |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Sausage Valley, Pozieres, France, 7 August 1916, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers-la Boisselle Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers la Boisselle, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Adelaide Officers of S.A. Post, Telegraph and Telephone Department Great War Roll of Honor, Adelaide Postmaster General's Department WWI Honour Board , Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Magill Honour Board, Magill War Memorial, Postmaster General's Department Adelaide, Tusmore Burnside District Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Gunner, 8428, 6th Field Artillery Brigade , Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Gunner, 8428, 6th Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Persic, Melbourne |
Allan Mercer
ALLAN MERCER
Allan Mercer Reg. No 8428 was the youngest son of John and Janet Mercer of Vine Street Magill. He was born on the 10th of September 1893, at Crystal Brook South Australia. Prior to enlisting he had served 4 years in the Citizens Forces. He was educated at Norwood High School, and on leaving joined the G.P.O. Engineers Department. On November 22nd 1915, he sailed from Melbourne aboard the HMAT Persic A34 for Suez in Egypt, where he arrived on the 21st December 1916. On the 23rd March 1916 he arrived in Marseilles, in France, along with the rest of the 6th Field Artillery.
He was killed in action at Sausage Valley, Pozieres, on the 7th August 1916. This date points to a battlefield tragedy. Six Anzacs died on this day, at this one spot. An enemy shell landed on 35 rounds of howitzer field gun ammunition. Killed along with Allan Mercer were, Frank Crommelin, William Cracknell, George Denness, Gladstone Page, and Henry White.
Allan Mercer was a member of the congregation of the Magill Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Magill Tennis Club. Both of these communities held him in high esteem, and lamented his loss.
http://www.ww1westernfront.gov.au/pozieres-australian-memorial/road-to-pozieres/gordon-dump-cemetery.php
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954) Saturday 23 September 1916 p 43
Submitted 25 April 2016 by Campbelltown Library Volunteers (Digital Diggers)
Click images to start slideshow.