EARL, Mervin Ashby
| Service Number: | 3739 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 August 1915, Was 21 at the time of enlistment. |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Angaston, SA, 30 August 1894 |
| Home Town: | Angaston, Barossa, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tailor |
| Died: | Hindmarsh, 1 March 1972, aged 77 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Angaston District WW1 Roll of Honour, Angaston Methodist Church & Sunday School WW1 Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 3739, Was 21 at the time of enlistment. | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Dec 1915: | Involvement Private, 3739, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: RMS Malwa embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 2 Dec 1915: | Embarked Private, 3739, 10th Infantry Battalion, RMS Malwa, Adelaide | |
| 26 Oct 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, Promoted in the field to corporal. | |
| 25 Feb 1917: | Wounded 3739, Wounded in action in France in 1917. | |
| 16 Feb 1918: | Honoured Military Medal, Was awarded a Croix de Guerre (Belgian Decoration) in France in 1918. It is listed as a Military Medal because that is its English equivalent. | |
| 22 May 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3739, 10th Infantry Battalion, Total service was 3 years and 340 days. He disembarked to Australia on the Khyber. | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 3739, 10th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Playford International College
Mervin Ashby Earl was born in the small town of Angaston, South Australia, in September 1894. His parents, Alfred Earl and Susan Elizabeth Ashby Barnett, were married on the 20th of June 1887 at the Presbyterian Church in Golden Grove. Before he was in the forces, he was a tailor.
Mervin had 4 siblings - Charles Ashby Earl (1888-1888), Mildred Mary Earl (1889-1950), Eveline Ashby Earl (1891-1891) and Percival Horace Earl (1892-1956). Percival was also on the Angaston District Roll of Honour WW1 along with Mervin.
On August 10, 1915, Mervin enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He joined the 10th Infantry Battalion and embarked on a ship called the RMS Malwa. He was promoted to Corporal in the field on 26 October 1916, then was wounded barely a few months later in 1917, in France. On the 16 February 1918, he was awarded a Croix de Guerre (French military decoration equivalent to a Military Medal) in France. Finally, on 22 May 1919, he was discharged honourably after about 3 years and 340 days of service. He returned to Australia on a ship named the 'Khyber'.
In 1923, Mervin married Caroline Gooley in Port Adelaide. Caroline was born on the 7th of October, 1897, in Jamestown. Her parents were James Gooley (1859-1919) and Rebecca Flavel (1865-1943).
Mervin and Caroline had two children - a daughter named Marjorie Doreen Earl (who apparently married a Mr Jack Liddington) and a daughter called Betty Mildred Earl. Marjorie was born on the 1st of April, 1924, and died on the 20th of June, 1963, nine years before the death of her father. Betty was born in 1928.
Mervin's father Alfred was a well-respected gardener in the province of Angaston, and passed away on the 24th of June 1954. In his obituary, it was mentioned that his wife passed away (Susan Elizabeth Ashby Barnett, who died in 1948) as did his daugher Milly (Mildred Mary), who passed away in 1950, four years before the death of her father. Percival passed away in 1956, while poor Charles died in 1888, the same year he was born. Eveline Ashby Earl also passed away the same year she was born. So, by the time Mervin was born, his family had already suffered the loss of two children.
After Alfred's death, Percival and Mervin were the only two surviving children and after 1956, Mervin was the only child still alive. It would have taken a lot to deal with the deaths of most of his family members so close together. In fact, in the space of a decade, Mervin lost most of his family.
Mervin's parents are buried in Angaston Cemetery, and so is his sister Mildred Mary. Mervin Ashby Earl rests in Centennial Park Cemetery, having died on the 1st of March, 1972, in Hindmarsh. Apparently, his last abode was 12 Rowley Terrace, Woodville. His wife, Caroline Earl (nee Gooley) was cremated and now has a memorial in Enfield Memorial Park, Clearview, Port Adelaide Enfield City. It is listed that she died on the 13th May, 1976.
During his service, and ultimately his life, Mervin Ashby Earl was a brave and honourable man, because he received an award for his actions and was given honourable discharge from the forces, meaning that they allowed him to leave service having been a brave and loyal soldier. The Belgian Croix de Guerre that he received is an award given to those who show bravery as a reward for their efforts, and here it serves as a reminder that Mervin showed courage and loyalty through one of the worst wars the world has ever seen.