The city of Merritt, British Columbia, was previously known as Forksdale, but renamed in 1906 in honour of soldier and mining engineer William Hamilton Merritt III.
Born in 1855, Merritt joined the Governor General’s Body Guard (previously known as the Governor General’s Horse Guards) in 1882 and deployed during the 1885 Northwest Rebellion. Following his return to Toronto, he was granted permission to join a British cavalry regiment in Egypt and then proceeded to South Africa where he was appointed squadron commander in the 1st Regiment, Brabant’s Horse and later second in command of the 2nd Regiment, during the South African War. Having returned to Canada, he was appointed second in command of the newly formed 2nd Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles in 1901. He once again sailed for South Africa in early 1902 and returned to Canada with his regiment at the end of the conflict. During the period prior to the First World War, he remained active in military circles, serving at various times as president of the Canadian Military Institute and the Canadian Cavalry Association and was instrumental in the creation of the Canadian Defence League. Due to his advanced age (59), he was unable to serve during the First World War, but continued his support of military matters by offering to outfit a unit, establishing the Canadian Aviation Fund to promote the creation of a Canadian military aviation service and purchasing and providing two aircraft to Britain. He died of influenza in 1918 and was buried with full military honours.
