Sergeant
JOHN PAUL (J P) MERTON

• 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

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

  [...]

  Read Article

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Fallen Soldiers from Flushing New York, United States

• Sergeant
  MERTON, JOHN PAUL
  16 April 1943
  RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
  

Fallen Comrades of the Royal Canadian Air Force

• Flight Sergeant
  PHILP, DONALD ROBERT
  16 September 1942
  RHEINBERG WAR CEMETERY
  
• Flight Lieutenant
  MEAD, ROBERT FRAZER
  9 May 1944
  GOSSELIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY
  
• Warrant Officer Class I
  MACNEARNEY, JOHN DOUGLAS
  27 March 1943
  RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
  
• Flying Officer
  ZAKOW, NICK
  9 February 1945
  TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY
  
• Flying Officer
  DEAKIN, ARTHUR KEELINGE
  13 November 1944
  RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
  
• Sergeant
  MCLENNAN, HILBERT ALEXANDER
  3 January 1942
  STRATFORD-ON-AVON CEMETERY
  
• Flying Officer
  MONTGOMERY, FRANK CHARLES
  21 July 1944
  BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
  
• Flight Sergeant
  PICHER, WILFRED CLARENCE
  29 March 1942
  HAMBURG CEMETERY
  
• Flying Officer
  MACNEILL, BEVAN TERRILL
  7 March 1945
  RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
  
• Pilot Officer
  HAMILTON, DALE MCGOWAN
  14 October 1944
  REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY
  
• Sergeant
  PRICE, KENNETH ETHEN
  5 April 1943
  PLOUDALMEZEAU COMMUNAL CEMETERY
  
• Flight Lieutenant
  O'CONNELL, LAWRENCE JAMES
  18 January 1944
  BEDFORD GATE OF HEAVEN CEMETERY