| Mervyn Ross Givan was the youngest son of the John Givan and Araminta Reid Givan. John Givan and Araminta Reid Ross were married on 14th August 1878 in Liscarney, County Monaghan.
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| John Givan was the son of John Givan of Castlecaulfield. His father was a prominent linen manufacturer. John Givan became a solicitor in 1870. He was J.P. for Aughnacloy and chairman of the Aughnacloy town commissioners. In 1880 John Givan was elected as one of the two Members of Parliament (MPs) for Monaghan. He held the seat until 1883, when he resigned to take up an appointment as Crown Solicitor for the County Meath and County Louth and for the town of Drogheda.
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| Mervyn Givan was born in Ballygawley on 25th December 1887. He was the youngest of five children. The family lived at Martray Manor.
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| Family: John Givan, Araminta Reid Ross, Elizabeth Maud Givan (born 19th May 1879), Araminta Effa Jane Givan (born 3rd May 1883), John Vernon Harcourt Givan (born 20th January 1884), Edward Littan Givan (born 21st August 1885), Mervyn Ross Givan (born 25th December 1887).
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| Mervyn’s father, John Givan, died on 2nd January 1895 at Martray Manor near Ballygawley.
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| Mervyn Givan emigrated to Canada after the death of his father.
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| Mr Givan came to Pembina County in North Dakota in 1911 and was for two years connected with the Neche Chronotype, a weekly newspaper. He was probably a printer.
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| He was married to Miss Mildred Lewis in January 1914.
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| After leaving Neche, Mr Givan and his wife lived in Detroit, Michigan, where he engaged in the real estate business.
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| Prior to enlisting, Mervyn worked as a printer.
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| Mervyn Givan was 25 years old when he enlisted in Valcartier, Quebec, Canada on the 24th September 1914. Mr Givan was perhaps the first North Dakotan to offer his services in the cause of the Allies.
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| Mr Givan was briefly with the Fort Garry Horse before transferring to the Strathcona Horse.
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| On 4th May 1915, Private Mervyn Givan embarked for France.
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| Private Mervyn Ross Givan was serving with Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) when he was killed in action in France on 24th May 1915. He was killed on the morning of the 25th, whilst taking part with his troop in an attack on Festubert. He was 27 years old.
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| The Canadian Circumstances of Death Register records that Private Givan was killed in action on 25th May 1915. He was killed on the morning of the 25th, whilst taking part with his troop in an attack on Festubert.
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| From the Ottawa Citizen dated 9th June 1915 (page 7): Lord Strathcona's Horse - Killed
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| Private Mervyn Ross Givan, Neche, N.D., U.S.A.
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| From the Tyrone Courier dated 17th June 1915
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| Mr Mervyn Ross Givan, who has been killed in action in France, was the youngest son of the late Mr John Givan, Matramay Manor, Ballygawley.
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| Private Givan’s medals went to Mrs Mildred Givan, whose address was given as Box 45, Neche, North Dakota, USA.
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| From the book ‘Pembina County in the World War’, page 88:
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| Mervyn Ross Givan, Neche, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland on 35th December 1886, and was the son of Sir John Givan of County Tyrone and resided in Ireland until after the death of his father. Mr Givan came to North Dakota in 1911 and was for two years connected with the Neche Chronotype. He was married to Miss Mildred Lewis in January 1914. After leaving Neche, Mr Givan and his wife lived in Detroit, Michigan, where he engaged in the real estate business. Shortly after the outbreak of the Great War, Mr Givan enlisted with the Fort Garry Horse at Winnipeg. He later transferred to the Strathcona Horse where he served until he was killed in active service in Belgium on 25th May 1915. Mr Givan was perhaps the first North Dakotan to offer his services in the cause of the Allies.
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| Trooper Mervyn Ross Givan has no known grave and is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial in France.
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| Private Mervyn Ross Givan is listed on page 14 of the Ballygawley War Dead book, compiled by Drew Robinson.
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