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MERTON, J P - Sergeant

Sergeant
JOHN PAUL (J P) MERTON

  • Canadian Fallen Soldier - Sergeant JOHN PAUL MERTON

  • Sergeant
    JOHN PAUL (J P) MERTON

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    JOHN PAUL (J P) MERTON
    2 November 1918
    Flushing, New York, United States
    R/129438
    8 September 1941 in Toronto, Ontario, CA
    Photographer
    Sergeant
    Royal Canadian Air Force
    16 April 1943
    Killed in flying accident overseas
    24 years
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
    Panel 186

  • Sergeant JOHN PAUL MERTON's Story

  • Born
    2 November 1918 in Flushing, New York, United States
    Occupation
    Worked as a Photographer prior to enlisting.
    Enlisted
    8 September 1941 in Toronto, Ontario | Age: 22 years
    Buried
    16 April 1943 - RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL | Age: 24 years

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Interesting Facts

  • Son of Owen & Ruth Merton. Husband of Margaret May Merton, of Liverpool. While on leave in England, he met Margaret and married her in February of 1943, less than two months before his death. Brother of acclaimed author Father Thomas Merton, who wrote frequently about his brother in his autobiography 'The Seven Storey Mountain.' Reportedly, JP enlisted in the Canadian army because the United States were not yet involved in the war and he felt a deep desire to help.

    Sgt John Paul "Mert" Merton was killed as a result of a flying accident, when his plane crashed into the English Channel due to engine failure. According to a letter written by one of his crewmembers, Merton nearly drowned while attempting to recover the body of their pilot, who was killed on impact. "He was an American, and if I ever hear anyone running down the Yankees in future, I shall have a word ready," they wrote. He made it aboard the dinghy despite his broken back, but succumbed to his injuries early the next morning. The remaining crew members were rescued five days later off the coast of Dover.

    "Take my breath...

    and buy yourself a better death...

    And buy you back to your own land

    The silence of Whose tears shall fall

    Like bells upon your alien tomb.

    Hear them and come,

    They call you home."

    - Take My Breath by Thomas Merton (for his brother JP Merton)

Media

  • 166 Squadron Wellington X HE862 AS-L F/O. Lupton, 5 days in survival dingy, Cayeux-sur-Mer, France

    Read article here: http://aircrewremembered.com/lupton-selwyn.html

    [...]

    Read Article

Images

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Fallen Soldiers from Flushing New York, United States

Fallen Comrades of the Royal Canadian Air Force


Fallen Soldiers buried in RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL