BORN HULL 1899. SON OF JOHN MERCER (1863-1928) & HANNAH TADMAN (1871-1945), OF 36, SHAW STREET, HOLDERNESS ROAD. ONE OF EIGHT CHILDREN. HE HAD FIVE BROTHERS AND TWO SISTERS. FOUR SONS WERE KILLED DURING WW1. THE MERCER FAMILY LIVED AT 89 BARNSLEY STREET (1901 CENSUS) AND 12 BARNSLEY STREET (1911 CENSUS). HIS FATHER WORKED AS A LIGHTER MAN AND WAGGON DRIVER ON THE DOCKS ALONG WITH HIS BROTHERS.
GEORGE ENLISTED IN HULL. SERVED IN THE 1/5TH NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS (TERRITORIALS). HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON THE 10TH APRIL 1918, AGED 18. HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL, BELGIUM.
HE LEFT SIBLINGS, FLORENCE, ETHEL & BABY FRANK MERCER.
John & Hannah Mercer, at 36 Shaw Street lost four sons. They were:-
L/Cpl, John Mercer, 1st EYR was killed at Ypres on 9th August 1915, aged 20.
L/Cpl, Alfred Shaw, 1st West Yorkshire Regiment, killed on the 27th May 1916, aged 25.
Pte, George Mercer, 1/5th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers was killed on the 10th April 1918 aged 18. Pte, James Mercer, 10th EYR, died of wounds 11th September 1918, aged 29.
