Gnr
William Joseph Marks
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1890 |
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Place of birth: Clyst St. Lawrence, Devon, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Farmer |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Gunner |
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Service number: 216145 |
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Enlistment place: Exeter, Devon, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Field Artillery, "D" Bty. 150th Bde. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 02/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Wieltje, Sint-Jan, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 27 |
Cemetery
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Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery Plot: V Row: D Grave: 3 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal — 19/05/1920 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 19/05/1920 |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Gunner William Joseph Marks served in “D” Battery of the 150th Army Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery.
The Army Brigade participated in the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 20th of July 1917 it took up positions near the Dead End of the Yser Canal in Ypres. Its headquarters were based on the Ypres ramparts. From here the Batteries of the Brigade shelled German positions in wake of the offensive.
On the 31st of July, the first day of the offensive, the Batteries of the Brigade limbered up and vacated their positions at the Dead End. They took up new positions near the hamlet of Wieltje, possibly along the Oxford Road. The HQ of the Brigade was located at the Cart Dugouts. At 08.30 a.m. the Brigade was in position and started supporting the British advance. Throughout the next couple of days there was much artillery activity on both sides. During the month of August the Potijze road, Bellewaerde and the area of Wieltje were regularly shelled by the German artillery.
Gunner William Joseph Marks was killed in action near Wieltje on the 2nd of August 1917. Although artillery activity had been less frequent than on the previous days, it’s highly possible that Gunner William Joseph Marks fell, due to German shelling. He was buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery.
The Army Brigade participated in the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 20th of July 1917 it took up positions near the Dead End of the Yser Canal in Ypres. Its headquarters were based on the Ypres ramparts. From here the Batteries of the Brigade shelled German positions in wake of the offensive.
On the 31st of July, the first day of the offensive, the Batteries of the Brigade limbered up and vacated their positions at the Dead End. They took up new positions near the hamlet of Wieltje, possibly along the Oxford Road. The HQ of the Brigade was located at the Cart Dugouts. At 08.30 a.m. the Brigade was in position and started supporting the British advance. Throughout the next couple of days there was much artillery activity on both sides. During the month of August the Potijze road, Bellewaerde and the area of Wieltje were regularly shelled by the German artillery.
Gunner William Joseph Marks was killed in action near Wieltje on the 2nd of August 1917. Although artillery activity had been less frequent than on the previous days, it’s highly possible that Gunner William Joseph Marks fell, due to German shelling. He was buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery.
Sources 2
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Dawlish World War One Project http://dawlishww1.org.uk/soldiers/gunner-william-joseph-marks/ Sources used |
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Divisional Troops: 'D' Battery Royal Field Artillery , (The National Archives, KEW 5TNA), WO 95/5133/8). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303 Further reference |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/142820 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=beadd142-c119-4e1f-aa4d-c530f1c8f76b |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/2918285 |