PETER ERIC MONTAGUE MERTENS

Peter is not remembered on the war memorial at Christchurch Park

Born: 4th July 1915, at 96, Corder Road, Ipswich.

Died: 9th April 1941; age: 25; aircraft was hit by flak and crashed at Hotenau, Germany.

Based at R.A.F. Mildenhall, Suffolk.

Rank: Sergeant; Service Number: 915446.

Regiment: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 149 (East India) Squadron.

Memorial Reference:

Panel 48.

Runnymede Memorial,

Englefield Green,

Surrey.

Father: Jules Pierre Henri Mertens, born November 1884, Antwerp, Belgium. An Export Merchant and Banker.

Mother: Mabel Alice Mertens (nee Butcher), born 1888, Islington, Middlesex.

Brother: Cesar Willem Karel Mertens, born February 1914, Antwerp, Belgium.

ENGLAND and WALES REGISTER 1939

Peter was an Assistant Manager for a Motor Salesman. He lived with widow, Margaret Butcher, born August 1872, at her home – Rothsay Villas, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

9th April 1941

Aircraft: Vickers Wellington; service number: X3167; Code: OJ-H, took off from R.A.F. Mildenhall, Suffolk, on a bombing mission to Kiel, Germany. X3167 was shot down by flak and crashed into the sea at Holtenau. All six members of the crew were killed. The bodies of Peter Mertens and Frank Jarrett were never recovered, and they are remembered at Runnymede, Surrey. The bodies of Alfred Coster, John Graham, Albert Rose, and John Jago were recovered and originally buried at Kiel Garrison Cemetery, Germany. On the 13th May 1957, the bodies were exhumed, identified and reburied at Kiel War Cemetery.

CREW:

Albert William Rose; Sergeant/Wireless Operator/Air Gunner; age: 22; R.A.F.V.R.

Alfred George Coster; Sergeant/Air Gunner; age: 21; R.A.F.

Frank Maitland Jarrett; Sergeant/Pilot; age 29; R.A.F.V.R.

John Alistair Graham; Pilot Officer/Observer; age: 24; R.N.Z.A.F.

John Barker Churchill Jago; Sergeant/Pilot; age: 20; R.A.F.V.R.