MERCHANT, Frederick b1893 Warrington - WW1

[fullscott]

Misfiled as MARCHANT in the WW1 Service Records (WO 363):

Frederick MERCHANT, born Orford Barracks, Warrington, 23 January 1893.
Parents: Jesse James & Mary Catherine
Address: 6 Percy Street, Warrington
Joined the South Lancs Regiment, 3 March 1913.
Regimental No.: 1708
Captured at La Palla(?) 24 October 1914.
POW at Hameln.
Released November 1918.
Discharged 1919.

Anc****y, MAR, pages 155797-155811

[helachau]

POW WWI records -
He returned to Hull aboard the Willochra, 19 Nov 1918. He was recorded as -
1708 L/C Marchant* F, 3/South Lancs

Looking at 2 examples of his signature on his FMP record they look very much like Marchant not Merchant. His 1911 Census entry, beautifully written by his mother, Mary, reads Merchant. An example of his his mother's signature on his FMP record looks like Marchant not Merchant.
Confusing!!

* - the typewriter threw a bit of a wobbly on this line but "a" rather than "e"

[brentor boy]

Recorded as Marchant on 1939 Register. Still living at 6 Percy Street, Warrington. Also present Alice Marchant.
From FreeBMD. Frederick Marchant/Alice Hardman June 1934. Warrington

[helachau]

Lance Corporal Fred Marchant's repatriation was covered in detail by the Runcorn Examiner, 21 Dec 1918 - including a photograph.

[fullscott]

Both versions appear in his Record.
Birth was registered as MERCHANT (Q1 1893 Warrington).

Who knows which version his descendants use nowadays?