| 10/08/2020 |
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 10th February 1945: |
| 10/08/2020 |
MARKS – Previously reported missing, now killed in action on operational duty over enemy territory on 1st July 1940, Sergeant Flight Engineer W S Marks, Royal Air Force, eldest son of Mr W Marks, U.S.A., and Mrs Marks, the Lodge, Dungannon. Deeply regretted by his sorrowing uncle and aunt, Mr and Mrs W S McKnight, Ballydawley, Coagh. Also their son Billy McKnight, Royal Air Force. ‘He died that we might live.’ |
| 02/03/2020 |
Pilot Officer John Edward ESTELL (423087) |
| 02/03/2020 |
William James Marks was the son of William and Isabel Marks. He was born about 1924. |
| 02/03/2020 |
William Marks served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in World War Two. |
| 02/03/2020 |
By June 1944, Sergeant (Flight Engineer) William Marks was serving with 100 Squadron. |
| 02/03/2020 |
At 10:30pm on 30th June 1944, Sergeant (Flight Engineer) William Marks and his crew took off on an Avro Lancaster bomber (type I, with serial number LL958) from RAF Grimsby to to bomb railway yards at Vierzon in France. |
| 02/03/2020 |
Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. |
| 02/03/2020 |
The aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and it crashed north east of the Foret de Boulogne and near the village of la Forte-St-Cyr (Loir-et-Cher), 26 kilometres East North East of Blois. |
| 02/03/2020 |
All the crew were killed including Sergeant (Flight Engineer) William Marks, who is recorded as being killed in action on 1st July 1944. The crew were: |
| 02/03/2020 |
Sergeant William James Marks is buried in La Ferte-St. Cyr Communal Cemetery in France. His inscription reads: GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS |
| 02/03/2020 |
Flight Sergeant John Keith CORY (413761) |
| 02/03/2020 |
Flight Sergeant James Albert HOLLANDS (429620) |
| 02/03/2020 |
Sergeant William James MARKS (1676946) |
| 02/03/2020 |
Flight Sergeant Norman Walter MILES (423833) |
| 02/03/2020 |
Flight Sergeant William Wayne OZEROFF (R/181436) |
| 02/03/2020 |
Flight Sergeant Anthony John ROUTLEY (419140) |
| 02/03/2020 |
Sergeant William James Marks is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial and on the WW2 stained glass window in St Anne’s Church of Ireland, Dungannon. |
| 02/03/2020 |
The CWGC record Sergeant (Flight Engineer) William James Marks as the son of William and Isabel Marks of Dungannon, County Tyrone. |
