Percival Harry Merriman (1882 - 1966)

Born 11 Jun 1882 in St Pancras, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 1966 at about age 83 in London, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Wikidata: Item Q17437310, en:Wikipedia - musician and comedy writer

Percival was born in 1882. He was the son of Harry Merriman and Sarah Elizabeth Honeyborn. Percival's birth was registered in the Jul-Aug-Sep quarter of 1882 in the Pancras district.^[1]

In the 1901 census, Percival (age 18), Railway Clerk, was the single son of Harry Merriman in St Pancras, Middlesex, England.^[2]

Percival was in a military record in 1909.^[3]

Percy's marriage to Amy Mary Gwinnett was registered in the Jul-Aug-Sep quarter of 1909 in the Pancras district.^[4] They had at least 4 children:

• Peggy Merriman 1911–
• Geoffrey P Merriman 1914–
• Eric Hugh Peter Merriman 1924–2003
• Edgar Merriman 1927–

In the 1911 census, Percival (age 28), Municipal Clerk, was the married head of household on St Pancras St Jude Gray's Inn Road, London, England.^[5]

The First World War may have been the best thing to happen to Percy. Before it he was a humble railway clerk, but during the war he discovered his talent as an entertainer.

The Roosters' Concert Party was formed in Greece on 28th March 1917. Eighteen artists were selected from the troops of London Territorial Regiment, 60th Division, based at Summerhill Camp in Salonika, having arrived there in December 1916. The party was assembled by a Lieutenant and named after Camp Commandant at Summerhill, Captain G.U.B. Roose, after he inaugurated the party fund with a gift of £5.

Before the Roosters left Salonica they had given 70 performances. They went to Egypt and toured in the desert, giving 21 shows in 28 days. The soldiers in the concert party continued seeing military action in between the shows, including action in Palestine, during the Battle of Jerusalem in December 1917.

At Christmas, 1917, they presented "Cinderella in Army Boots" in an old theatre, the Palestine Pavillion, Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem (a show that would be updated and re-enacted for a BBC radio broadcast in 1924). This show was still being played up until February of 1918. Concerts were also given in Jordan Valley, Jericho, Cairo, and in Alexandria where the 60th Division were relocated in November 1918. The party returned to England in early 1919 where the 60th Division was disbanded by May 1919.

(Private) Percy H. Merriman was Business Manager of the Concert Party when it turned civilian. In the concert party from the very start, he was also the writer of most of the comic sketches and acted as stage manager, as well as performing his own comedy routines and songs.

(Sergeant) Arthur E. Mackness was the tenor singer, Septimus Hunt was the baritone singer, and (Private) William McClelland, adopting the stage name William Mack, was the humorist.

(Rifleman) George Western, of the 16th London Regiment, replaced CQMS FRC Barton at the piano in late 1917. When Gordon Marsh joined the concert party during November 1918 in Alexandria, Egypt, the pair worked a double-act in the shows and did duets, with George at the piano. After demobilisation in 1919 George was one of the members to stay with the Roosters, although from January 1925 George would often work away from the Roosters with his cousin Kenneth whilst still regularly taking part in Roosters' concerts, until he stopped performing with the Roosters altogether in 1929/1930 to concentrate on the double-act with Kenneth which developed into The Western Brothers.

After being demobilised in 1919 many of the early members went their own way, deciding to go home to family and jobs. But Percy Merriman, Arthur Mackness, William Mack and George Western decided to carry on as a civilian concert party. Between being demobbed in 1919 and becoming BBC broadcasters in 1923 they played at carnivals and parades.

The civilian Roosters Concert Party made their debut broadcast on BBC radio on 20th October 1923. At this time the Roosters were Percy Merriman, Arthur Mackness, William Mack, George Western and Septimus Hunt. From 1924 on, they became a regular fixture on BBC radio, even being billed at public and private performances as the 'BBC Concert Party' or the '2LO Concert Party'. The Roosters would broadcast and perform live every year from 1923 until 1947 uninterupted.

When George left the Roosters he was replaced at the pianoforte by Frederick Pain, who had been a founding member in 1917 but left when the Army Division was disbanded. His return to the concert party on radio was in August 1930, whilst from March 1931 another founder member, Charles Harrison, returned to the Roosters to fill the comedy gap left by George. The Roosters' Concert Party would then remain Arthur Mackness, Percy Merriman, William Mack, Septimus Hunt, Frederick Pain and Charles Harrison until at least the mid 40s.

Although the radio broadcasts became rarer from the mid-30s, the Roosters did continue to entertain troops and civilians in live shows that weren't broadcast, throughout the Second World War. The last noted performances in the papers of the Roosters was a show at the Princes Ballroom, Yeoville on Friday 10th November 1947, the day before Armistice Day.

Despite this extremely long service record of 30 solid years The Roosters simply disappear from the news records after November 1947 with no mention of them disbanding or retiring. Merriman did attempt to restart a new Roosters Concert Party in the early 50s, advertising for new members but nothing appears to have come of this.

The Roosters' Concert Party released a series of records between 1928 and 1935 (at least 10) on the Regal and Columbia labels which were re-enactments of some of their radio and concert sketches, including some that had been performed since their formation in 1917 (although updated).^[6]

It is unclear whether Amy passed away before 1942, or if the couple divorced, but there is a record of Percy remarrying. Percival married Mary H Northcote in Apr/Jun 1942 in London, England.^[7]

Percy appeared on the BBC radio show Desert Island Discs in 1964 and discussed the Roosters, unfortunately only a short excerpt of the programme remains.

Percival's death (age 84) was registered in 1966 in London, England.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration: "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008"
   citing Birth Registration, Pancras, London, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England
   FamilySearch Record: 2XVR-LLH (accessed 5 April 2024)
   Percival Harry Merriman birth registered Jul-Aug-Sep 1882 in Pancras.
2. ↑ 1901 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1901"
   citing Kentish Town subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey
   FamilySearch Record: X9ZG-7QW (accessed 5 April 2024)
   Percival H Merriman (18), single son, Railway Clerk, in household of Harry Merriman (56) in St Pancras registration district in Middlesex, England. Born in St Pancras, London.
3. ↑ Military: "United Kingdom, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920"
   citing Affiliate Publication Number: WO 363; Digital film/folder number: 007378274; FHL microfilm: 007378274; Image number: 601
   FamilySearch Record: QVBR-LXLJ (accessed 5 April 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-99CZ-KTW2
   Name: Percival Harry Merriman; Military Service Date: 1909; Birth Date: 1882; Birth Place: Kentish Town, Middlesex, England; Mil Regiment: 959; Mil Company Regiment: London Regiment; Age: 26; System Of Record: SLS.
4. ↑ Marriage Registration: "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005"
   citing 1909, quarter 3, vol. 1B, p. 326, Pancras, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England
   FamilySearch Record: 2DN7-7DK (accessed 5 April 2024)
   Percy Harry Merriman marriage registered Jul-Aug-Sep 1909 in Pancras.
5. ↑ 1911 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1911"
   citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey
   FamilySearch Record: XWLL-B84 (accessed 5 April 2024)
   Percival Merriman (28), married, Municipal Clerk, head of household on St Pancras St Jude Gray's Inn Road in St Pancras registration district in London, England. Born in London St Pancras, London.
6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCX_BBpFhT4
7. ↑ Marriage Registration: "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005"
   citing UK General Register Office. Page: 1339
   FamilySearch Record: QV85-2NQJ (accessed 5 April 2024)
   Percival H Merriman marriage to Mary H Northcote registered from Apr 1942 to Jun 1942 in London, England, United Kingdom.
8. ↑ Death Registration: "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007"
   citing UK General Register Office. Volume: 5B; Page: 726
   FamilySearch Record: QVC2-XX9J (accessed 5 April 2024)
   Percival H Merriman death registered 1966 in London, England, United Kingdom (age 84).

• Familysearch: Percival Harry Merriman