AC2 1085349 Reuben Frank Mercer was born the 4th quarter of 1907 at Tenterden, the son of John Mercer (1879 to 1937) and Ellen Crampton (1872 to 1958).

The 1911 census finds him with his family at Station Road, Tenterden. John aged 31 is a coal carter born at Staplehurst. Ellen aged 38 was born at Biddenden. The couple have been married for eleven years and have produced five children, all still alive. George aged 10 and Ellen aged 9 both born at Rolvenden and John aged 7, Reuben aged 3, and Raymond aged 2 months, all born at Tenterden.

On the 29th of October 1930 at St Mildreds, Tenterden he married Emily May Gardner, the daughter of farmer William Henry Gardner.

Reuben died the 8th March 1941 of pneumonia and secondary diphtheria, aged 33.

The Kentish Express for the 21st of March reports briefly that he had “recently joined his RAF unit and had to return to his home upon becoming ill. For 12 years he had been in the employ of Messrs Milstead. He then worked as a Singer sewing machine sales representative in connection with “Mems” (his wife’s art and wool shop in Tenterden). His funeral took place on March the 12th in the parish church, followed by his internment in the cemetery - the service being conducted by the Reverend D W W Carmichael."

The paper notes that he left behind a widow and four year old son. It seems that Emily, born 1910, never remarried, she died in 2004 and is buried in the same grave as Reuben. His parents are buried together in the Jireh Baptist Chapelyard in Tenterden.