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Distinguished
ONs
James Hardy Marks - D.S.O. and bar D.F.C.
and bar
Click Here to Download Powerpoint Presentation on Jim Marks
Jim Marks, born 1918, was at Newport Free Grammar
School from 1931-36. A tall, fair-haired, well built
young man, he was an excellent sportsman, playing
a prominent part in the school cricket and soccer
elevens.
On leaving school, he obtained his civilian flying
ticket and joined the Royal Air Force, being commissioned
as a pilot officer on 9 May 1937. From the outbreak
of war in September 1939, he was actively involved
as a bomber pilot, initially being chosen to undertake
10-hour flights over hostile territory to drop leaflets
over Poland. For this, he was mentioned in despatches
in January 1940. During the Battle of France in
May 1940, he was awarded the D.F.C. In his recommendation,
his Commanding Officer said that on 20 May, Jim
Marks was detailed to attack an important bridge
and, although flying through heavy fire, he carried
out three runs over the target to ensure the success
of the mission. On subsequent nights he attacked
certain cross-roads, but as the weather and visibility
was poor on both occasions and there was difficulty
in accurately pinpointing the target, he flew around
the area for about one and a half hours until better
weather enabled more accurate bombing to take place. |
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Bomber crews had many remarkable
experiences. Quoting from official documents about
a raid on Emden in April 1941, when Jim Marks was
Captain of the crew of a Whitley bomber, "He
was just about to bomb when he was attacked from
the rear by a night fighter; the first burst hit
the starboard engine, which stopped, thereby immobilising
the rear turret. A second attack from below would
have had far more serious consequences but for the
protection offered by the 500lb bombs. On its final
attack from head on, the night fighter approached
so close that it is presumed it must have struck
the rudder of the Whitley with its wing. Half of
the rudder was severed completely, and when last
seen, the fighter was banking over steeply in a
dive as though one wing was damaged."
At this time, in spite of jettisoning bombs, the
aircraft had lost height to 700 feet, and the Captain
decided to make for Norfolk, and at this height,
limped across some 50 miles of hostile and occupied
territory. The Air Observer pulled up the floorboards
and discovered one 500lb bomb, which had not dropped
out. This he released by hand, after which the aircraft
climbed gradually to 1,000 feet and a successful
landing was made at Bircham Newton."
In April 1942, Jim Marks twice led his squadron
on a bombing raid on the battleship "Tirpitz".
His Commanding Officer reported "the enemy
had concentrated heavy defences over the target
area and this was well known to A/Wg. Comdr. Marks,
but despite this fact he came down to 200 feet and
flew through the fiercest of defences to press home
his attack, releasing his bombs on or very close
to the ship. In addition to his own magnificent
example of courage, his superb leadership, sense
of duty, enthusiasm, cheerfulness and determination
which he exhibited at all times were largely responsible
for the gallant way in which the other crews of
his squadron went in to the attack".
In 1942, Jim Marks was made C.O. of the "Madras
Squadron" of Halifaxes and this Squadron was
visited by King Gorge V and Queen Elizabeth and
Mr Churchill to hear at first hand the magnificent
work carried out by the Squadron. Later in the year,
Air Vice Marshall Donald Bennett founded the Pathfinder
force and chose Jim Marks to lead one of his squadrons
and awarded him the Pathfinder badge. He took part
in a number of 1000 bomber raids on Germany including
several raids on Berlin.
Jim Marks was on a Pathfinder mission when he was
killed on 19 September 1942 and in the words of
one of the crew who survived "the aircraft
was suddenly damaged. The plane went into a dive
and Jim Marks gave orders to the crew to bale out.
I was the last to leave the plane and when I passed
the Captain on my way to bale out, he was having
to fight terrifically to keep the aircraft in any
sort of trim, and as there was plenty of height
when I left, I felt that as soon as he left the
controls the aircraft would have gone so haywire
so as to make baling out for him impossible".
Three of the crew survived and three were killed.
The aircraft, Halifax W7657, crashed at Blesmé,
France.
After the war, Group Captain Cheshire V.C., D.S.O.,
D.F.C. wrote an article reminiscing about aircrew
who were at RAF Topcliffe with him several years
earlier, and he wrote of a night in 1942, "there
sat Jimmy Marks, the greatest pilot in the room,
if not in the whole of Bomber Command. His greatness
lay in the phenomenal strength of his will-power
and in his complete calm".
Jim Marks was only 23 years of age when he was killed.
He was the youngest Wing Commander in the RAF at
that time and he was to have been promoted to Group
Captain on his return from his last mission.
Fifty years later Jim's sister (Mrs Joan Walters)
was invited to a special commemoration at Blesmé
at which a Memorial to Wg. Cdr. J H Marks, Fl.Lt.
A J Child and Pt. Off L Hay-Clarke was to be unveiled.
On Saturday 19 September 1992 Mrs Walters, Bill
Higgs (F/Sgt W Higgs a survivor from the crew) and
Eric Barnard (a representative of Bomber Command)
went to Blesmé Town Hall. Quoting from an
account of the day "We reached the Hall and
found the roads packed with the villagers, Police
and the local Band. They were all very friendly
and gave us many smiles. The mayor arrived and asked
us to follow the Band to the Memorial. This was
at the end of the village…..Lots of photographers
seemed to run alongside taking photographs.
The Memorial was made from 2 blocks of granite brought
by the villagers from the next village. It was from
a water tower blown up by the Germans when they
retreated from France.
The site of the Memorial was beautiful. A lovely
glade of trees and grass and flowers, it was so
peaceful with the sun shining through. The Memorial
was at the top of 4 steps leading to the glade.
It was just off the road.
The Mayor made a speech explaining the event to
the people. Bill Higgs and the Mayor stood each
side of the Memorial and lifted off a white sheet
to unveil it. It was beautifully inscribed with
Jim's name and rank etc and those of J Childs and
R L Leigh Hay-Clarke." Wreaths were laid and
about 15 small children laid posies on the steps
to the Memorial. The National Anthems were played
and there was five (sic) minutes silence.
After this ceremony they all went to the Hall where
there was an exhibition of photographs of the Halifax
and the crew, their medals and parts of the crashed
aircraft. It was beautifully presented and special
books had been printed. There was then a champagne
lunch after which the Mayor's daughter drove Mrs
Walters, Bill Higgs and Ernie Barnard to Choloy
War Cemetery to see the graves of Jim and his crew.
"It had a great air of peace and quietness.
I shall never forget it".
In the evening there was a dinner at the Officers
Mess at St. Dizier.
During his career, for his many deeds of courage,
leadership and devotion to duty, James Hardy Marks
was twice mentioned in despatches and awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross and bar, the Distinguished
Service Order and additionally a bar to that order.
Undoubtedly the courage was inherent, but it is
possible that the seeds of leadership and duty were
sown at Newport mainly on the Rider field, but also
in the Memorial Hall where, in those days, daily
assemblies were held.
The O.Ns presented a trophy to the school in memory
of Jim Marks in order that his fortitude and valour
should not be forgotten. |
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Newport Free Grammar School,
Newport, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 3TR.
t: 01799 540237 f: 01799 542189 e: admin@nfgs.essex.sch.uk |
| © 2005 Newport Free Grammar
School |
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