Mayor Arthur William Mercer

Other Events:

• Elected Office: Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mayor - Cambridge
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-209177
• Occupation: 1911, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Agent, Piano
• Residence: 1911, 30 Elliott St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1911, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Methodist
• Residence: 1945, 224 Main St. E., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

BX May 16, 1919

Distinguished Conduct Medal Presented to Hero's Mother - Decoration Awarded to Company Sergeant Major Stephen Ridley, Formerly of Brantford

A former resident of Brantford, and an employee of The Courier, has been added to the list of Canadian heroes, the late C.S.M. Stephen Ridley, whose distinguished conduct medal was received by Mayor A.W. Mercer of Galt on Monday.

The late Company Sergeant-Major Stephen Ridley died of wounds on August 28, 1918 and was awarded the coveted decoration on account of the gallantry and courage he displayed in the battle of Cambrai, in which he received his fatal wounds. He was one of the 19th Battalion Boys.

On Tuesday Mayor Mercer, Ald. Alfred Taylor and others, waited upon the soldiers mother, Mrs. Stephen Ridley, of 11 Close Avenue, and presented her with the Distinguished Conduct Medal which had been awarded to her son. In making the presentation Mayor Mercer addressed Mrs. Ridley:

To me has fallen the great honour of being commissioned by the military authorities to deliver to you the Distinguished Conduct Medal so nobly won by your gallant son on the field of Cambrai.

No words of mine can convey the appreciation of your son's fellow citizens for his gallantry, and even this tangible appreciation from the Empire falls short of consoling you for the loss of your beloved son, but as the years go on and all-healing time brings you the balm of consolation that nothing else can give your pride will be freshly inspired every time you gaze on this medal, the tangible evidence that amongst countless heroes your son was counted brave.

It is with pride, therefore, that I hand you this medal, counting it associated even in this small measure with that of your son and that I can do your son the posthumous service of delivering to his mother the medal which he so gallantly won at the cost of his own life.

And, on behalf of the city, permit me to assure you that your fellow citizens rejoice with you in your son's bravery and mourn with you his early death.

Stephen Ridley DCM | Great War Centenary Association. (2018). Doingourbit.ca. Retrieved 30 May 2018, from https://www.doingourbit.ca/profile/stephen-ridley-dcm?page=8

Arthur — Elizabeth Jane E. "Jane" Robinson. Elizabeth was born 1870, , Canada; died 11 Sep 1904, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

1. Ruth Mercer was born Jun 1898, , Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.
2. Paul Whitaker Mercer was born 27 Aug 1904, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died Yes, date unknown.

Arthur married Ethel Rose White 23 Sep 1908, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Ethel (daughter of Robert White and Lydia A. Thomas) was born 8 Feb 1884, Beverly Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada; died 1971; was buried , Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]