Thursday 20 August 2015

Dr. George Merz

Tragic news in this week's 100 year old Ballarat Courier.  In the death notices, George and Annie Merz of Raglan Street, record the death of their only son: killed in action.


Dr. Merz is something of a personal favourite.  We keep a beautiful photograph of him in the Australiana Room -


'Citizens and Sports' records in brief Merz's brilliant career : educated at Humffray St SS, Ballarat and Grenville College ... won prize of 200 pounds tenable at Melb. Univ; took MB degree Aug '14; ... Lieut and Instr. C'wealth Aviation Corps, '14; Persian Gulf operations July & Aug '15.  The compiler of Citizens and Sports then goes on to note with regret that Merz was killed in action near Basra, being 'attacked by Arabs upon aeroplane falling through engine failure.'

You can read more about this extraordinary young man here - an excellent article researched by Dr. Tracy L. Smart, Officer Commanding, Health Service Wing, Royal Australian Air Force.

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