Description
Africa General Service, bar Somaliland 1902-4, 1914-15 Star Trio, CH13175 Private Archibald Clement Mercer, Royal Marines.
AGS officially impressed: “A.C. Mercer. Pte R.M. H.M.S. Highflyer”
Confirmed on medal roll.
1914-15 Star Trio all officially impressed: “CH. 13175 Pte A.C. Mercer. R.M.L.I.”
With copy service papers.
Archibald Clement Mercer, was born on 19th August 1873 in North Kensington, London.
He was a former Engine Cleaner, and his family were of the “Wesleyan” Church.
He first enlisted at London on 19th January 1892 for the Royal Marines.
He served a full 12 year terms of service from 19th August 1892 to 1st January 1904, when he was discharged to the Royal Fleet Reserve, holding a “Very Good” general character.
He had been deployed to “Somaliland” whilst on board HMS Highflyer, which he served on board from 7th December 1899 to 24th November 1903, before returning to Chatham and gaining his discharge in the beginning of the next year.
His service was close to flawless, apart from one indiscretion when he and 3 other Royal Marines went “AWOL” only a few months into his service.
His youthful slip-up, Dover Chronicle, 2nd July 1892:
“ABSENTEES
Four privates belong to the Royal Marines, stationed at Walmer, named Thomas Inman, ARCHIBALD CLEMENT MERCER, Charles Fisher, Joseph William Scott, were placed in the dock, just as the Court was about to rise, charged with being absentees from their regiment.
The Prisoners were apprehended shortly after eleven o’clock that Monday morning by Police Constable Groombridge, in Frith Road.
The Bench Ordered them to be taken back to their regiment.”
Service papers record that on 30th June 1892, Archibald was sentenced to imprisonment in the “Cells”.
Archibald consistently remained with the Royal Fleet Reserve from 1904 until the outbreak of World War 1, re-enrolling after 5 years for further service with the RFR on 31st July 1909.
With the outbreak of World War 1, he “re-enlisted for hostilities only” and would serve throughout the war.
His recorded note from 2nd Dec 1916 until 14th August 1917: “Served with Expeditionary Force France”.
During this period he served with the “Victory V RMB (Royal Marine Battalion), until returning home to the Chatham Div Headquarters on 15th August 1917.
After the close of World War 1, he was discharged from service on 3rd July 1919, with “Very Good” character and returned home to Maida Hill, London.
He saw the following ranks and promotions:
“Lance Corporal, 18th March 1894
Private, 8th July 1899
Lance Corporal, 7th Dec 1899
Pte, 23rd Nov 1900
Lance Corporal (Unpaid), 5th September 1915
Paid, Lance Corporal, 23rd Nov 1916
Acting Corporal (R.M.E.), 9th March 1918
Acting Sergeant, 8th November 1918
Corporal, Acting Sergeant, March 1919.
In 1921, he lived in Denholme Road, Paddington, and was working as the Caretaker for the Wesleyan Church in Stenhead Road W9.
By 1939 he was working as a Commercial Clerk, before he died soon afterwards in Paddington, London during early 1940, aged 65.
