William Henry Merrills
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John Burkett Merrills and Emma Cook, married at Retford area in 1882. John was a cottage farmer before branching out to become a shop keeper dealing in groceries and provisions. They lived in East Markham where they bought up seven children, Ann, Mary, Emma, John, Thomas, Hannah, William Henry, all born between 1883 and 1896. Soon after the birth of the youngest, William Henry, the family moved to Tuxford where they resided at 48 Eldon Street, Tuxford. In 1911 all the children were working with the exception of William who was still at school. He later moved to 13 Coulston Street, Sheffield where in 1915 he was working as a grocer’s apprentice.
William was 19 years and 10 months old when he applied to join the Army. He was attested on 8th Dec 1915 and was put on the Army reserve list. He joined the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and was mobilised shortly after on 22 January 1916 and given a medical examination. The report states that “poor development, spinal curvature, fit for full service at home.” He transferred to the Royal Scots 2/7 Battalion on 15th April 1916. He was still serving when armistice was declared without having served abroad but was retained for "service in the armies of occupation" receiving a bonus of 10/6 a week. He was would have been already serving in Ireland with the 1st/10th Battalion on 14th February 1919, when the order was issued. It was only a few days later that he contracted pneumonia followed by influenza and died on the 23rd Feb 1919 at 11.15 hours at Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo. His remains were transported back to Tuxford where his parents buried him in Tuxford Churchyard on the February 27th, 1919, which was his 23rd birthday.
CWG additional information:- Son of John Burkitt Merrills and Emma Merrills, of Eldon St., Tuxford. Research by Colin Dannatt
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