MERCER, Thomas Thomson
| Service Numbers: | 24502, Q75737, Q89366 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 August 1918, 7th Reinforcements QLD |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1 Garrison Battalion (QLD) |
| Born: | Galashiels, Selkirkshire, Scotland, 1 May 1890 |
| Home Town: | Ipswich, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Storeman |
| Died: | Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, 4 July 1951, aged 61 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Ipswich General Cemetery, Qld |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Aug 1918: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 24502, 7th Reinforcements QLD | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Nov 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 24502, 7th Reinforcements QLD |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Q75737, also Q89366 (21/7/41-16/9/41) | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Jun 1941: | Discharged | |
| 21 Jul 1941: | Involvement Private, Q89366, also Q75737 | |
| 21 Jul 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, Q89366, 1 Garrison Battalion (QLD) | |
| 16 Sep 1941: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, Q89366, 1 Garrison Battalion (QLD) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Tom was the second of six children of Thomas Mercer Snr (born 1866 in Roxburgh, Scotland) and Margaret Gilchrist Thomson (born 1866 in Hawick, Scotland). Thomas was a Tailor and Margaret a Wool Picker when they married in 1887 in Galashiels, Scotland. Following Margaret's death in 1907, the three youngest children - Margaret, Hector and George - were taken into care in the city orphanage and in 1911 Hector and George were sent to Canada on board the Hesperian as child migrants. Eldest sister Robina immigrated to Canada in November 1911, and Margaret was sent as a child migrant in 1912.
Tom was a Mill Hand in March 1910 when he immigrated to Brisbane, QLD on board the Owestry Grange. He was working as a Labourer at the Federal Hotel in Ipswich, QLD in January 1916 when he married Jeanie Allan (born 1894 in Roxburgshire, Scotland). Jeanie had arrived in Brisbane, QLD with her parents and siblings in 1911 on board the Paparoa.
In 1918 Tom was working as a Storeman in Bundanba, Ipswich, QLD when he enlisted in the AIF (Service No:24502) - he had served eighteen months with the Border Rifles. Tom was attached to 7th Reinforcements QLD when he was Discharged in Decemcber 1918. Brothers-in-Law James Allan (Private; Service No:2) and Fergus Osborne Allan (Private; Service No:126) also served in WWI.
Tom and Jeannie settled in the Bundanba region in Ipswich where Tom worked as a Storeman. In 1940 Tom enlisted briefly in the ACMF as a Private (Service No:Q16420) with 9/49th Battalion. He re-enlisted in July 1941 and served as a Private (Service No:Q89366) attached to 1st Garrison Battalion until September 1941. Two of Tom's sons served in WWII - Hector George (Private; Service No:Q47829), and Allan (QX53107). Two Sons-in-Law served in WWII - Alwyn Thomas McLean (Private; Service No:QX54831) and John Baxter McCorquodale (Corporal; Service No:Q145416). Son Robert (Barnie) Mercer (Service No:14435) served in the Korean War.
Tom and Jeanie moved to Sherwood in Brisbane where Tom was a Baker and Cook. He died in 1951 and Jeani in 1975.
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