Blinks Mercer 1882

Mercer Blinks
1882-1947

Father Nm: Albert Blinks 1845-1922; Oldest known Ancestor –

Mother Nm:  Mary Anne Gasson 1853-1938.

Marriage Dt: 1916  to Alice Whittingham, Rochford, Essex.

K comments: Brother Archer served with RAF as a cook.

Spouse comments: Alice Whittingham 1882-1973.

Children: Katharine Vanda 1926.

Birth 1st March 1882

Hurst Green, Sussex.

1891 Census

Age: 9

Butchers Shop, 83 London Road, Hurst Green, Sussex, England, UK

1901 Census

Age: 19

Butchers Shop, 83 London Road, Hurst Green, Sussex, England, UK

ICON ONLINE WAR GALLERY Indian ASC badge
Online War Photo Album Army Services Corps
WW1

Blinks Mercer, 1882, Hurst Green, Sussex, Private, S4/218731, ASC Butcher BI.

1916
  • Mercer enlisted and is sent to France as a Butcher with the Army Services Corps. Age thirty-four and living at Jessionine Cottages, High St, Cranbrook, Kent. Mercer describes his profession as Slaughterman and this was likely working in the family business.
    Blinks Butchers Hurst Green
    Blinks butchers standing (centre) outside the home and Butchery Business in Hurst Green Sussex. Possibly one or more  Albert, Frank, Mercer and Archer featured in this photograph. Phot appears 1930s vintage judging by van

    Note: Mercers Army number S4….. tells us he was assigned to a supply company to be part of Kitcheners New 4th Army and this company we know from his records was K supply Coy. The Butchery he worked in supplied meat to the 30-35th Divisions of the 4th Army.

  • 17thApr. Embarked to France with K Supply Company ASC, he served overseas until 7th Aug 1919.

    Butchers from Royal Engineers Collection IWM
    We do not have a record where Mercer was stationed but the ASC butchers were allocated to Army units. This Photo from the Royal Engineer’s collection at IWM and shows Butchers Shop, No. 4, Stationary Hospital, Arques. © IWM (Q 28920)
1919
  • 4thSept. Discharged.
Medals

BritishWarMedal-VictoryMedal

Awarded the British and Victory medals.

After the War
1919

Age: 36,  Home from 1st World War.

Private in Royal Army Service Corps S4/218731 awarded Victory & British Army medals.

1938

Age: 56, Prittlewell, Copthall Avenue, Hawkhurst, Kent, England, UK.

Mercer’s wife had been brought up in Prittlewell, Essex and is probably why the house was named the same.

1946

Age: 64, Prittlewell, Copthall Avenue, Hawkhurst, Kent, England, UK.

Death 1947 age 65 years

Southend-On-Sea, Essex, England, UK.

Gallery

 

There are 6 records in the National Archives for this man. For copyright reasons they cannot be re-published.

 

Screen Shot 2018-06-26 at 8.55.00 pm
Mercer, when he married Alice in 1916, gave his residence as Jessie Cott High St, Cranbrook Kent. This is a 1922 photo of High St., Cranbrooke.
High St., Cranbrooke Kent
Another view of the High St. Cranbrook.
Prittlewell Church
The Church where Mercer married Alice Whittingham in 1916. This postcard of St Marys was posted in 1916
The Bridge Prittlewell Postcard posted 1904.png
Mercer and Alice were living on Colchester Rd Prittlewell, Nr Southend in 1919 when he was discharged. Postcard posted 1904