George Houlden MERRIKIN

Rev G H Merrikin taught at SRGS in the 1890s. See this search.

MERRIKIN George Houlden Second Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, The London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers). Killed in action 27th August 1918. Aged 40 Husband of Norah Louise Merrikin of 42, Herberton Road, West Southbourne, Bournemouth Enlisted in 1914 in the RAMC A clerk in Holy Orders. Buried in Summit Trench Cemetery Crosilles. [ http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Sussex/Westbourne.html ]

A Poignant Great War Casualty Group of Three to Second Lieutenant The Rev. G.H. Merrikin, 1/2 Battalion London Regiment, Killed in Action 27.8.1918, After Rescuing Eight of Nine Wounded Men Stranded in No Mans Land, He Was Shot Through the Heart Going Back For the Last Man
1914-15 Star (42178 Pte. G.H. Merriken. [sic] R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (2.Lieut. G.H. Merrikin), good very fine or better, with Officers' Relatives War Report, Application for Pension from recipient's wife, dated 11.10.1918

£250-300

Second Lieutenant The Rev. George Houlden Merrikin, born Louth Lincolnshire, 1878; his father was an auctioneer by profession; privately educated at Bedford House, Oxford, and Ely Theological College; prior to the Great War Merrikin was Chaplain at Wellingborough School; Curate at Dulwich College and Precentor at Bristol Cathedral; enlisted as Private and Stretcher Bearer Royal Army Medical Corps, 19.10.1914; served with the Corps during the Great War in the French theatre of War, from 19.1.1915; posted to the Officers Cadet Battalion, Trinity College, Cambridge, October 1917; commissioned Second Lieutenant 1/2nd London Regiment, 7.1.1918; joined his battalion in France, 29.4.1918; served with the battalion during the 2nd Battle of Arras, and was killed in action 27.8.1918, 'under most heroic circumstances he met his death at a spot between Croisilles and Henin-sur-Cojeul, while going out in broad daylight to the German trenches to rescue eight or nine of our own wounded. He succeeded in saving eight men, and when going to save the remainder was shot through the heart'; he is buried in Summit Trench Cemetery, Croisilles, France (find-a-grave link). [ http://www.auction-net.co.uk/viewAuction.php?id=876&offset=50&PHPSESSID=02dc66f39ebefeae5e80cb12b ]