Arthur Merriman

Arthur Douglas Merriman, (25 November 1892 – 2 November 1972) was a government scientist with the Ministry of Supply, a British Army officer, and a recipient of the George Cross.

Early life and career 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. He entered France as an acting captain on 3 April 1918 (promoted 2 July). He was decorated with the Legion d'honneur, 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.

Second World War 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. His war-substantive rank was increased to lieutenant with effect from 1 January 1942, and later that year to major. On 6 January 1944 he was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for "gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East". He was Scientific Adviser to the Commander-in-Chief Middle East.

Later life In 1946 he became Registrar-Secretary of the Institution of Metallurgists, a post he held until 1957. In 1967 he became Master of the Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers. He died in 1972.

On 27 June 2013 The Daily Telegraph reported that Merriman's George Cross had been put up for auction by his grandson, with an estimate of £60,000.