ALFRED MERCHANT
13 November 1882 - 10 April 1918
At School 1895 - 1897
Lieut 6th attd 11th Lancashire Fusiliers
The Hulmeian – April 1918
Old Hulmeians and the War
Missing
Lieutenant Alfred Merchant, Lancashire Fusiliers, was reported wounded and missing on April 9th. He was previously officially reported missing on March 21st, but succeeded, after much fighting, in regaining his battalion on the 26th.
Alfred Merchant
Lieutenant, 11th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, attached 6th Battalion.
Died 10th April 1918, age 34.
Commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.
Former member of the University Officer Training Corps
Alfred was the son of William Merchant of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester. He was born in 1882 at Cheetham, educated at Hulme Grammar School and worked in the cashiers office at Fine Cotton Spinners and Doublers Association. From November 1915 to February 1916 he was a member of the University Officer Training Corps. On 20th July 1916 he was gazetted to the Lancashire Fusiliers. When the German’s launched a large attack on 21st March 1918 Alfred was reported missing, but he succeeded after much fighting in rejoining his unit five days later. He was then wounded and reported missing again during further enemy attacks on 9th/10th April April 1918, later confirmed as killed. He left effects worth £334 15s 4d to his widow Jennet.