Arthur Merriman

Arthur Merriman
Born (1892-11-25)25 November 1892
Manchester, Lancashire
Died 4 November 1972(1972-11-04) (aged 79)
Streatham, London
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  British Army
Ministry of Supply
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Unit Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Royal Engineers
Battles/wars

First World War
Second World War

Awards George Cross
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Legion of Honour (France)
Other work Government scientist, metallurgist, Deputy Lieutenant of London

Arthur Douglas Merriman GC, OBE, DL, FRSE (25 November 1892 – 2 November 1972) was a government scientist with the Ministry of Supply, United Kingdom, an officer of the Royal Engineers and a recipient of the George Cross.[1][2]

Biography

Merriman was born in Manchester in 1892. On 22 July 1917, during the First World War, he received a temporary commission as a second lieutenant in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, and was confirmed in his rank and promoted to temporary lieutenant on 3 November.[3][4][5] He entered France as an acting captain on 3 April 1918 (promoted 2 July).[6][7] He was decorated with the Legion d'honneur,[5] and relinquished his commission on 25 September 1919, leaving the army as a captain.[8] In the 1930s he was a teacher in Wallsend, before becoming Secretary of the Faculty of Architects and Surveyors, in March 1938. They later awarded him an honorary fellowship, shortly before the events for which he was awarded the George Cross.[9]

With the outbreak of the Second World War, he returned to ordnance work as a civilian government scientist, defusing German bombs around the United Kingdom, under the cover occupation of an inspector of air raid shelters.[5][9] In 1940 the Luftwaffe were continually bombing London as part of The Blitz. When a bomb dropped on Regent Street on 11 September 1940,[1][5] Merriman proceeded to remove most of the explosive from the bomb. When it did detonate, it caused minimal damage and for his actions he was awarded the George Cross on 3 December 1940.[2] The George Cross is the highest award for bravery that can be awarded to civilians in the United Kingdom.

On 1 January 1941 he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and given the acting rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.[10] His substantive rank was increased to Lieutenant (war-substantive) with effect from 1 January 1942,[11] and later that year to Major (war-substantive).[12] On 6 January 1944 he was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division) (OBE) for "gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East".[13][14] He was Scientific Adviser to the Commander-in-Chief Middle East.[15]

In 1946 he became Registrar-Secretary of the Institution of Metallurgists, a post he held until 1957.[15] On 12 December 1955 he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of London.[16] In 1967 he became Master of the Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers.[15] He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Surrey in 1969.[17] He died in 1972.[15]

George Cross citation

Merriman's George Cross citation appeared in the London Gazette on 3 December 1940:[2]

The King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the George Cross to:-

Arthur Douglas Merriman, Part-time Experimental Officer, Directorate of Scientific Research, Ministry of Supply. For conspicuous bravery in connection with bomb disposal.

— London Gazette

On 27 June 2013 The Daily Telegraph reported that Merriman's George Cross had been put up for auction by his nephew, with an estimate of £60,000.[5] More likely it was his grandson as the medal would have passed to his son Kenneth who died fairly recently.

References

  1. 1 2 "Dr Arthur Douglas MERRIMAN, GC., O.B.E.". George Cross database. Archived from the original on 16 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  2. 1 2 3 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35006. p. 6909. 3 December 1940. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30203. p. 7598. 24 July 1917. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30383. p. 11820. 13 November 1917. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Radhika Sanghani; Agencies (27 June 2013). "Bravery medal won in WW2 on sale for £60,000". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "Medal card of Merriman, Arthur Douglas Corps: Royal Army Ordnance Corps". Discovery. The National Archives (United Kingdom). Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30907. p. 11153. 17 September 1918. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 32197. p. 536. 18 January 1921. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
  9. 1 2 "Brave deeds in raided areas — George Cross for Scientist". The Guardian. 4 December 1940. p. 5.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35034. p. 131. 3 January 1941. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
  11. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35899. p. 746. 9 February 1943. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
  12. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35818. p. 5388. 8 December 1942. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
  13. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36317. p. 149. 4 January 1944. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
  14. ↑ "Documents Online – Image details, recommendation for award" (fee required). Documents Online, Family History: Recommendations for Honours and Awards (Army). The National Archives (United Kingdom). Retrieved 2008-01-09. War Office and Ministry of Defence: Military Secretary's Department: Recommendations for Honours and Awards for Gallant and Distinguished Service (Army)
  15. 1 2 3 4 "Obituary: Colonel A. D. Merriman". Issue 58626. The Times. 8 November 1972. p. 19, Col E. Retrieved 2007-11-22. (subscription required (help)).
  16. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 40656. p. 7073. 16 December 1955. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
  17. ↑ University of Surrey website Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine., accessed 19 November 2007

Further reading

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