Topic: AIF - 3B - 8 LHR
8th LHR, AIF
8th Australian Light Horse Regiment
The Merritt family
The Merritt family
[From: Melbourne Argus, 19 January 1915 p. 7.]
During the Great War, many families saw all the eligible men enlist for service. This item deals specifically with the Merritt family which was featured within a small piece published in the Melbourne Argus, 19 January 1915 p. 7.
Family of Soldiers
In the camp at Broadmeadows three brothers named Merritt for one of the notable instances of the three boys of a family bound for the war. They are William Crawford, Charles Cecil and Frank Leslie Merritt of Welshpool, Gippsland. The uncle of the lads, Mr David Crawford, who went through the South African War in Bethune's Light Horse, is also a member of the present contingent, and has been placed in command of the scouts. He was mentioned in despatches in South Africa, and received the "DSO". The family is certainly a fighting one, for Mrs Merritt's father was a member of the British legion that fought in Spain from 1834 to 1840.
The following are the military biographies of each man mentioned in the article.
Lieutenant David Crawford, Bethune's Mounted Infantry, Mentioned in Despatches
[From: London Gazette Issue 27459, 29 July 1902, p. 23.]
231 Sergeant David Crawford
Place of birth High Camp, Kilmore, Victoria
School High Camp State School, Victoria
Religion Protestant
Occupation Motor mechanic
Address 26 Anderson Street, Yarraville, Victoria
Marital status Married
Age at embarkation 37
Height 5' 9.75"
Weight 175 lbs
Next of kin Wife, Mrs Hannah Mabel Crawford, 22 Richardson Street, Essendon, Victoria
Previous military service Served in Bethunes Mounted Infantry during Boer War as a Sergeant. Mentioned in despatches.
Enlistment date 21 September 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll 21 September 1914
Place of enlistment Melbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistment Sergeant
Unit name 8th Light Horse Regiment, B Squadron
AWM Embarkation Roll number 10/13/1
Embarkation details Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A16 Star Of Victoria on 25 February 1915
Rank from Nominal Roll Sergeant
Unit from Nominal Roll 8th Light Horse Regiment
Fate Killed in Action 23 June 1915
Place of death or wounding Walker's Ridge,Gallipoli, Turkey
Age at death 40
Age at death from cemetery records 40
Place of burial Ari Burnu Cemetery (Row C, Grave No. 1), Anzac, Gallipoli
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
Australian War Memorial 6
Miscellaneous information from
cemetery records Parents: William and Jane CRAWFORD; husband of H. Mabel CRAWFORD, Collins Street, Traralgon, Victoria
Family/military connections Nephews: 318 Pte Charles Cecil MERRITT, 3rd Machine Gun Squadron, died of wounds, 1 November 1917; 319 Pte Frank Leslie MERRITT, 8th Light Horse Regiment, returned to Australia, 11 April 1916; 28370 Gunner Roy Vernon MERRITT, 14th Field Artillery Brigade, returned to Australia, 25 March 1919.
Other details
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli
Proceeded to join Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 16 May 1915.
Killed in action, Gallipoli, 23 June 1915 (hit by shell); buried, 23 June 1915.
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Lest We Forget
318 Private Charles Cecil Merritt
Place of birth Camberwell, Victoria
School Welshpool School, Victoria
Religion Presbyterian
Occupation Labourer
Address Welshpool, South Gippsland, Victoria
Marital status Single
Age at embarkation 21
Height 5' 9"
Weight 159 lbs
Next of kin Father, Thomas Merritt, Welshpool, South Gippsland, Victoria
Previous military service Nil
Enlistment date 24 September 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll 24 September 1914
Place of enlistment Toorac, Victoria
Rank on enlistment Private
Unit name 8th Light Horse Regiment, B Squadron
AWM Embarkation Roll number 10/13/1
Embarkation details Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A16 Star Of Victoria on 25 February 1915
Rank from Nominal Roll Private
Unit from Nominal Roll 3rd Machine Gun Squadron
Fate Died of wounds 1 November 1917
Place of death or wounding Beersheba, Palestine
Age at death 25
Place of burial Beersheba War Cemetery (Row B, Grave No. 49), Palestine
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
Australian War Memorial 180
Family/military connections Brothers: 319 Pte Frank Leslie MERRITT, 8th Light Horse Regiment, returned to Australia, 11 April 1916; 28370 Gunner Roy Vernon MERRITT, 14th Field Artillery Brigade, returned to Australia, 25 March 1919. Uncle: 231 Sgt David CRAWFORD, 8th Light Horse Regiment, killed in action, 23 June 1915.
Other details
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Palestine
Proceeded to join Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 16 May 1915.
Admitted to New Zealand Field Ambulance, Gallipoli, 28 June 1915 (bomb wounds, both legs); transferred to Hospital Ship, 28 June 1915; admitted to No 2 General Hospital, Cairo, Egypt, 8 July 1915; to No 2 General Hospital, Mena, 4 August 1915; to Anzac Convalescent Camp, Helouan, 5 August 1915; transferred to Zeitoun for duty, 11 August 1915.
Admitted to No 3 Auxiliary Hospital, Heliopolis, 28 September 1915 (dysentery); transferred to No 4 Auxiliary Hospital, Abbassia, 28 September 1915; to Anzac Convalescent Camp, Helouan, 16 October 1915; discharged to duty, 29 March 1916; marched into Convalescent and General Base, Zeitoun, 30 March 1916.
Transferred to 3rd Light Horse Brigade Machine Gun Squadron, Moascar, 1 August 1916.
To Imperial School of Instruction, Zeitoun, 27 October 1916; passed as 1st Class Machine Gunner in Lewis Gun Course.
Admitted to 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, Belah, 31 March 1917 (diphtheria); transferred to 34th Casualty Clearing Station, 31 March 1917; to Convoy Station, 31 March 1917; to No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital, El-Arish (tonsilitis), 2 April 1917; discharged to duty, 11 April 1917; rejoined unit, 23 April 1917.
Admitted to 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, Shellal, 17 June 1917 (diarrhoea); transferred to Casualty Clearing Station, 19 June 1917; to Hospital Train, 20 June 1917; to No 2 Australian Stationary Hospital, 20 June 1917; to Base Hospital, 21 June 1917; to 24th Stationary Hospital, 21 June 1917; to Citadel Military Hospital, Cairo, 23 June 1917; to Convalescent Depot, Abbassia, 20 July 1917; discharged, 3 August 1917; taken on strength, 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment, Moascar, 3 August 1917.
Detached to Imperial School of Instruction, Zeitoun, 26 August 1917; passed as 1st Class Machine Gunner; returned to duty, 15 September 1917.
Transferred to Machine Gun Details, 15 September 1917; taken on strength, Machine Gun Training Squadron, 15 September 1917.
Transferred to 3rd Australian Machine Gun Squadron, 19 September 1917; taken on strength, 22 September 1917.
Wounded in action, Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917; admitted to 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, 31 October 1917 (bomb wound, chest); transferred to Australian Receiving Station, 1 November 1917 (bomb wounds, thorax and abdomen); died of wounds, 1 November 1917; buried, 1 November 1917.
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
In the evening at Tel el Saba, 31 October 1917, while Beersheba was falling, there was an air raid on the men as they moved to their positions. Those killed came from "C" Squadron, 9th Light Horse Regiment and the 3rd Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron.
Roll of Honour
499 Private William Irvine HUTCHINSON, 8th Light Horse Regiment
3255 Private James Lowry BODKIN, 9th Light Horse Regiment
1497 Private John Currie CUMMING, 8th Light Horse Regiment
318 Private Charles Cecil MERRITT, 8th Light Horse Regiment
2815 Private Claude Michael LEAHY, 9th Light Horse Regiment
2939 Private Donald James MORRISON, 9th Light Horse Regiment
Lest we forget.
319 Private Frank Leslie Merritt
Date of birth 11 June 1897
Place of birth Buln Buln, Victoria
Religion Presbyterian
Occupation Hairdresser
Address Welshpool, Victoria
Marital status Single
Age at embarkation 19
Height 5' 8"
Weight 140 lbs
Next of kin Father, Thomas Merritt, Welshpool, Victoria
Previous military service 67th Infantry
Enlistment date 15 September 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll 16 September 1914
Place of enlistment Meeniyan, Victoria
Rank on enlistment Private
Unit name 8th Light Horse Regiment, B Squadron
AWM Embarkation Roll number 10/13/1
Embarkation details Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A16 Star Of Victoria on 25 February 1915
Rank from Nominal Roll Private
Unit from Nominal Roll 8th Light Horse Regiment
Fate Returned to Australia 11 April 1916
Family/military connections Brothers: 318 Pte Charles Cecil MERRITT, 3rd Machine Gun Squadron, died of wounds, 1 November 1917; 28370 Gunner Roy Vernon MERRITT, 14th Field Artillery Brigade, returned to Australia, 25 March 1919. Uncle: 231 Sgt David CRAWFORD, 8th Light Horse Regiment, killed in action, 23 June 1915.
Other details
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli
Proceeded to join Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 16 May 1915.
Admitted to Hospital Ship, 16 August 1915 (shrapnel wound, stomach); disembarked Alexandria, 25 August 1915; admitted to No 2 Australian General Hospital, Cairo, 25 August 1915; transferred to Mena Hospital, 1 September 1915; transferred to Montasah Convalescent Camp, 3 September 1915; to British Red Cross Convalescent Camp, Montasah, 3 September 1915 (enteritis); transferred to Mustapha Base, 25 September 1915.
Admitted to Anzac Convalescent Camp, Helouan, 28 October 1915 (influenza); transferred to No 2 Australian General Hospital, Ghezireh, 5 November 1915 (tonsilitis); to Anzac Convalescent Camp, 12 November 1915; to No 2 Auxiliary Hospital, Heliopolis, 22 February 1916 (diarrhoea and varicocele); to 1st Auxiliary Hospital, Heliopolis, 10 March 1916; marched out for return to Australia, 10 April 1916.
Commenced return to Australia from Suez on board HT 'Runic', 11 April 1916; disembarked Melbourne, 12 May 1916; discharged, 7 August 1916.
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
British War Medal and Victory Medal marked returned, 10 May 1923.
320 Private William Crawford Merritt
Religion Presbyterian
Occupation Labourer
Address Welshpool, South Gippsland, Victoria
Marital status Single
Age at embarkation 22
Next of kin Mother, Mrs A Merritt, Welshpool, South Gippsland, Victoria
Enlistment date 24 September 1914
Rank on enlistment Private
Unit name 8th Light Horse Regiment, B Squadron
AWM Embarkation Roll number 10/13/1
Embarkation details Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A16 Star Of Victoria on 25 February 1915
Rank from Nominal Roll Private
Unit from Nominal Roll 8th Light Horse Regiment
Fate Returned to Australia 28 April 1915
28370 Gunner Roy Vernon Merritt
Place of birth Black Flat, Victoria
Religion Presbyterian
Occupation Student
Address Welshpool,South Gippsland, Victoria
Marital status Single
Age at embarkation 18
Height 5' 6.25"
Weight 129 lbs
Next of kin Father, Thomas Merritt, Welshpool,South Gippsland, Victoria
Previous military service 64th Infantry
Enlistment date 25 May 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll 25 May 1916
Place of enlistment Melbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistment Gunner
Unit name Field Artillery Brigade 12, Reinforcement 7
AWM Embarkation Roll number 13/39/3
Embarkation details Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on 25 October 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll Gunner
Unit from Nominal Roll 14th Field Artillery Brigade
Other details from Roll of Honour Circular Brothers: 318 Pte Charles Cecil MERRITT, 3rd Machine Gun Squadron, died of wounds, 1 November 1917; 319 Pte Frank Leslie MERRITT, 8th Light Horse Regiment, returned to Australia, 11 April 1916. Uncle: 231 Sgt David CRAWFORD, 8th Light Horse Regiment, killed in action, 23 June 1915.
Fate Returned to Australia 25 March 1919
Other details
War service: Western Front
Embarked Melbourne, 25 October 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 28 December 1916.
Proceeded overseas to France, 15 August 1917; marched into Australian General Base Depot, Rouelles, 18 August 1917.
Taken on strength, 14th Field Artillery Brigade, and posted to 53rd Battery, 27 August 1917.
Evacuated, 2 October 1917 (gassed); admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance, 3 October 1917; transferred to 1st Aouth African General Hospital, Abbeville, 4 October 1917; embarked for England, 11 October 1917; admitted to Reading War Hospital, 12 October 1917 (mustard gas); transferred to 1st Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 2 November 1917; discharged, 6 November 1917; marched into No 4 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 13 November 1917; marched out to Overseas Training Brigade, Longbridge Deverill, 19 January 1918.
Marched out to Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery, Heytesbury, 5 February 1918.
Proceeded overseas to France, 13 March 1918; marched into Australian General Base Depot, Rouelles, 14 March 1918; rejoined 14th Field Artillery Brigade, 19 March 1918.
To England on leave, 26 January 1919; reported to Headquarters, 12 February 1919.
Admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital, Sutton Very, 26 February 1919 (sick); discharged, 27 February 1919.
Commenced return to Australia from England on board HT 'Fort Denison', 25 March 1919; disembarked Melbourne, 10 May 1919; discharged, 25 July 1919 (medically unfit).
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Source: Information for this post was extracted from AUSTRALIAN ANZACS IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918
Further Reading:
8th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment, The Merritt family
