Albert Victor Mercer

  General Notes:

Albert signed up for the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 13 February 1915 at Liverpool in Sydney. He was given the Service Number 2056 and assigned to the 5th Reinforcements, 3rd Battalion as a Private. His age was recorded as 21 years and 1 month, but he was in fact only about 17 or 18 years old, having been born in 1897. His occupation was a Labourer and he listed his father as his Next of Kin - address 102 Buckingham St, Sydney. He was described as 5 feet 4 3/4 inches tall, chest 32-34 inches with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. He had a scar on the bridge of his nose. His religion was C of E. Interestingly a Medical History form completed on 28 June 1916 in France records his height as 5 feet 7 inches tall and his occupation as Brewer.

By the 14 June 1915 Albert and his unit were in Gallipoli where they would spend the next four months. During his time there Albert (like many others) had several stints in hospital suffering from Influenza, Gastritis and Jaundice. On 21 October 1915 he was on his way to England on board the Aquitania. A message sent to his father informed him that Albert was suffering "Valvular disease of heart". Upon arrival he was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital and then the Abbey Wood hospital on 3 February 1916. He was released from hospital on 7 June and by 3 August 1916 he had rejoined his unit which, by this time, was in France.

Sadly, Albert was Killed in Action just two weeks later, on 18 August 1916, while fighting in France. He was buried 3/4 mile north of Pozieres and 4 1/4 miles noth-east of Albert. He is remembered at the Villers Bretonneux Memorial.

On 5 October 1917 his father received a delivery of Albert's personal effects comprising a mirror, comb and cards.

Albert was the recipient of the 1914/15 Star, No. 11952, the British War medal, No10338; and the Victory Medal No. 10294. His father received a Memorial Scroll, No. 301917 and a Memorial Plaque No. 301917.