Rifleman Daniel Merron was 37 years of age when he was killed in June 1944. He had enlisted on 24 July 1940 having previously been a labourer in Maghera, County Derry.  Daniel had married his wife Mary in 1934 and they had two sons. Although he was only 8 years old at the time, their eldest son, Peter vividly remembers his mother’s reaction to the telegram and say that it is something that will stay with him. Mary died in 2001 but did not get the chance to travel to Orvieto to visit her husband.