Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Major A. T. Mercer, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese

1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (Capt., R.A.O.C.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (7580257 Sjt., R.A.O.C.) mounted as worn, some contact marks, very fine (9) £280-320

Alfred Thomas Mercer was born on 11 September 1901. Entering the Army, as a Staff Sergeant in the R.A.O.C. he was appointed a Lieutenant (O.E.O. 3rd Class) on 24 August 1941 (London Gazette 26 December 1941). As a Lieutenant in the R.A.O.C. he was captured by the Japanese on the capitulation of Singapore and held in Changi Camp from 15 February 1942 until the end of hostilities. At the time of his capture he was living at ‘Bolinbroke, Dunstall Avenue, Wolverhampton’. Appointed a Captain in September 1946 (London Gazette 9 May 1947) and Major in November 1950 (London Gazette 19 December 1950). Mercer relinquished his commission whilst retaining his rank on 1 September 1956 (London Gazette 31 August 1956). Major Mercer died in Gloucester in early 1982.

With the recipient’s ‘Elgin’ pocket watch; small brass compass and electro-plated nickel silver tankard, this inscribed, ‘Presented to Major A. T. Mercer by Mil. & Civ. Staff of Kits Stores. 221 Veh. Bn. R.A.O.C. Johore, Malaya’. Also with copied gazette extracts and PoW report.