David Merry
Personal information
Born1923 (1923)
Tobago
Died (aged 21)
near Penhold, Alberta, Canada
RelationsCyril Merry (brother)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1940–1941Trinidad
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 2
Runs scored 135
Batting average 45.00
100s/50s –/1
Top score 80
Balls bowled –
Wickets –
Bowling average –
5 wickets in innings –
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling –
Catches/stumpings 1/–
Source: Cricinfo, 26 July 2020

David Merry (1923 – 4 May 1944) was a Tobagonian first-class cricketer and Royal Air Force officer.

Born in Tobago in 1923, Merry was educated at the Queen's Royal College, where he played cricket and association football.[1] He appeared in two first-class matches for Trinidad against Barbados, both in February 1941 and both at the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain.[2] During these two matches, Merry scored 135 runs with a batting average of 45 and a high score of 80.[3] He also represented North Trinidad in two matches of the Beaumont Cup, scoring 114 runs in his second appearance.[4] Merry's final cricket match, representing the West Indies against Lancashire, took place on 7 June 1942 at Longsight.[5] He gained 9 runs before being caught by Henry Butterworth and bowled by Winston Place.[5]

Merry served as a flying officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War and was assigned as a flying instructor to the No. 36 Service Flying Training School in Canada.[6][7] Piloting Airspeed Oxford X6734 during a night training exercise on 4 May 1944, Merry died when the aircraft crashed near Penhold. He had held the aircraft steady to allow his pupils to bail out and was consequently killed.[8][9] Merry is buried at the Red Deer Cemetery.[6]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ McCrery 2017, p. 449.
  2. ↑ "First-Class Matches played by David Merry". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  3. ↑ "First-Class Batting and Fielding for Each Team by David Merry". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  4. ↑ "North Trinidad v South Trinidad in 1940/41". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Lancashire XI v West Indies XI in 1942". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Casualty Details: David Merry". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  7. ↑ "Men of 36 Service Flying Training School, Penhold, Alberta". AviationArchaeology. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  8. ↑ McCrery 2017, p. 450.
  9. ↑ "Caribbean aircrew in the RAF during WW2 » Blog Archive » MERRY David". CaribbeanAircrew. Retrieved 26 July 2020.

Sources

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