Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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1676946   Sergeant William James Marks
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 10/08/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 100 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (British Air Force)
Died: 01/07/1944 (Killed in Action)
Age: 20
Summary      
William James Marks was the son of William and Isabel Marks. He was born about 1924. William Marks served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in World War Two. By June 1944, Sergeant (Flight Engineer) William Marks was serving with 100 Squadron. On 30th June 1944, he and his crew took off on an Avro Lancaster to bomb railway yards at Vierzon in France. The aircraft was shot down by a night fighter. All the crew were killed including Sergeant Marks.
Sergeant William James Marks
Further Information
William James Marks was the son of William and Isabel Marks. He was born about 1924.
William Marks served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in World War Two.
By June 1944, Sergeant (Flight Engineer) William Marks was serving with 100 Squadron.
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.
Lancaster Bomber
Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base.
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.
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:
bullet Flight Sergeant John Keith CORY (413761)
bullet Pilot Officer John Edward ESTELL (423087)
bullet Flight Sergeant James Albert HOLLANDS (429620)
bullet Sergeant William James MARKS (1676946)
bullet Flight Sergeant Norman Walter MILES (423833)
bullet Flight Sergeant William Wayne OZEROFF (R/181436)
bullet Flight Sergeant Anthony John ROUTLEY (419140)
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 10th February 1945:
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.’
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
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.
The CWGC record Sergeant (Flight Engineer) William James Marks as the son of William and Isabel Marks of Dungannon, County Tyrone.
Read more
Relevant Dungannon Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 St Annes Church Dungannon Central Listed on memorial 54.503440 -6.769413
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 Back to Normandy Details of flight LL958
2 France Crashes 1939-45 Photo of Sergeant William Marks' gravestone
3 RAF Commands - LL958 Details of crew and accident
4 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Sergeant William Marks' gravestone can be purchased here
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023