Larrikin WWII hero honoured at state funeral
Honouring a South Aussie WWII hero who skipped his Distinguished Flying Cross ceremony at Buckingham Palace to attend the dog races.
Hundreds have gathered to honour World War II veteran Raymond ‘Ray’ Merrill at a state funeral held at Berry Funeral’s Chapel in Magill after he passed away aged 103 earlier this month.
Australian Air Force members acted as pallbearers for Merrill’s casket, draped in his beloved Adelaide Crows scarf, flowers, military uniform and an Australian flag.
Among those in attendance was Transport Minister Joe Szakacs who was representing Premier Peter Malinauskas, Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh who represented Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith, RAAF members, friends, and family.
Merrill was remembered as a “larrikin” and a “hero” who grew up in Port Augusta with his father, Charles, who served as Lance Corporal in Gallipoli during World War I.
At the age of 19, Merrill followed in his older brother Frederick’s footsteps and enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on Anzac Day in 1942, completing his aircrew training in Victor Harbor before acquiring his air gunnery badge in Victoria.
You might like
He was a decorated tail gunner in the RAAF’s 218 Squadron during World War II where he completed 36 operational missions.
Merrill played an integral part in some of the most significant operations during the war, including deception efforts supporting the Allies in the Normandy D-Day landings in 1944.
For his service, Merrill was awarded one of the highest military awards for heroism, the Distinguished Flying Cross, for his exceptional flying skill and bravery in combat.
During one mission, Merrill removed by hand four live incendiary bombs that had been dropped from above into his Lancaster bomber, saving both his fellow crew members and aircraft from a catastrophic explosion.
Merrill’s longtime friend Drew Bennett said the moment of heroism perfectly reflected his character.
“He never saw himself as a hero. If you asked him about it, he’d probably just shrug his shoulders and tell you he was just doing his job, mate,” Bennett said.
Stay informed, daily
“Ray wasn’t just a hero; he was a good man, a loyal friend, someone who gave his time, his care, his heart to the people around him without ever asking for anything in return.”
He was also awarded the 1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, Australian Service Medal 1939-1945 and the Légion d’Honneur by the French Government in 2015.
Geoff Merrill, Ray’s son, said the best story that captured his father’s “larrikin view of life” was skipping his Distinguished Flying Cross ceremony at Buckingham Palace to attend the dog races.
“Unfortunately, on that day, Dad’s favourite dog Bluey was running at Sheffield,” he said
“Bluey only had one eye, and if it had a rails barrier, it was unbeatable. This day did have a rails barrier, and instead of Buckingham Palace, Dad went to Sheffield and cleaned up.
“Dad ended up getting his Distinguished Flying Cross in the mail.”
A photo montage of Merrill’s life played on the screen accompanied by The Way We Were by Barbara Streisand, Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World and Streisand’s Memory.
Those in attendance were also asked to sing along to Don’t Fence Me In by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters before the ceremony came to a close.
Air Force Association SA vice-president Greg Weller remembered Merrill as “a true character” and a “loved member of the Adelaide veteran community”.
“His stories of service and courage featured in the press, social media, ceremonies, Air Force engagements, reminding us of the sacrifices, dedication and airmanship our WWII veterans exhibited in our nations dire time of need,” Weller said.
“Farewell and Fair Skies our friend and thank you for your distinguished service to our nation. You are one of a special generation that our country is forever indebted to. Your deeds will not be forgotten.”
The state government will also be holding a State Funeral for WWII bomber command veteran Angas Hughes following his passing at age 102 last week.
Want to see more stories from InDaily SA in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily SA as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily SA". That's it.
