James Marcus D’Arcy was born in the June quarter of 1913, the son of Michael Harry & Maude D’Arcy (nee Maddox, formerly Sullivan). (Birkenhead Vol. 8a Page 1059).
James Marcus’s mother, Maude D’Arcy had been married before, when as Maude Sullivan, she married John Maddox in St. Mary’s Church, Bootle – Parish of Walton-on-the-Hill, on the 20th January 1904. John MADDOX, 29, Bachelor, Cotton Salesman, 77, Balliol Row, Bootle, Peter MADDOX, Gentleman & Maude SULLIVAN, 26, Spinster, 19, Oriel Road, Bootle, James SULLIVAN,(deceased), Master Mariner. (After Banns) – Witnesses:- Leonard COURT & Sarah WILLIAMSON COOK.
By the March quarter of 1908, Maude had lost her husband John Maddox (W. Derby Vol. 8b Page 202). She was left with 2 daughters, Elsa Maddox, who was born in the June quarter of the same year – 1908 and Elinor Linda Maddox who had been born in the September quarter of 1906.
By 1911 Maude Maddox was living at 9, Vaughan Road, New Brighton, Liscard, Cheshire, with her two daughters, where she is described as age 33, married 5 years, 3 children born, 1 died – (this was crossed out by the Enumerator as she was a widow.) She had Private Means, and had been born in Wavertree, Liverpool. There were 4 visitors, three from a Jones family and one was Michael Henry D’arcy, age 27, single and a Manager in a Cotton Office, he had been born in Bolton, Lancashire. Maude had one servant, described as a Domestic Help.
By the next year, 1912, in the September quarter, Michael Henry D’Arcy and Maude Maddox were married in Emmanuel Church, New Brighton, Cheshire. (Wirral C7/1/57). As stated above, James Marcus was to follow the following year. I have no information of his early years, so any information would be gratefully received.
The 1921 census shows us that Michael Harry D’Arcy was living with his new wife, Maude, her 2 children and their son James Marcus at 9, Vaughan Road, New Brighton, Wallasey, Cheshire. Michael Harry was age 38 years and 2 months old, he had been born in Bolton, Lancashire, he was a Cotton Merchant and his employer, D.F. Permefather & Co., was in Tithebarn Street, Liverpool. Maude was 43 years and 4 months of age, she had been born in Bootle, Lancashire and was doing “Home Duties.” Elinor Linda Maddox, step-daughter, was age 15 years exactly. Elsa Maddox, Step-daughter was 13 years and 2 months old, both had been born in Crosby, Lancashire, their father was dead and they were in school “Whole time.” James Marcus D’Arcy, son of Michael Harry & Maude was 8 years and 3 months old and had been born in New Brighton, Cheshire and was also in school “Whole time.”
I find James Marcus’s father on the 30th April 1932 when Michael Harry D’Arcy embarked on the ship “Laconia,” which was bound for New York, his address was 23, Ennerdale Road, Wallasey, he was age 40 and a Cotton Merchant.
On his return journey, Michael Henry (Harry) D’Arcy is seen on the ship “Scythia” departing New York & Boston, arriving Liverpool on the 7th June 1932,his address was 23, Ennerdale Road, Wallasey, Cheshire and he was a Cotton Merchant, age 49 years.
First time I find the adult James Marcus is when I see him on the Passenger List of the “Reina Del Pacifico,“ which departed Liverpool on the 4th November 1936, destination Callao, Peru, he was age 23 and his residence in England was 23, Ennerdale Road,Wallasey.
The next time I find James Marcus was returning home from Peru on the Ship “Samaria,” arriving at Liverpool on the 14th November 1938. He was age 25 and a Cotton Buyer, his proposed address in the Uk was D.F. Permefather & Co., Cotton Exchange, Liverpool. The same company as his father in 1921.
James Marcus, now age 25 and still a Cotton Buyer, was once again travelling, this time to Valaraiso on the Ship “Orbita,” on the 21st January 1939, stating on the Ship’s manifest that his permanent Residence was going to be Peru. War was still a little way away.
The 1939 National Register, was taken on the 29th September 1939, the address was 23, Ennerdale Road,Wallasey, the Register, which is a Source of birth dates, shows Michael H. D’Arcy had been born on the 29th April 1893 and he was a Cotton Merchant, Maud (sic) D’Arcy had been born on the 2nd February 1879 and was doing ”Unpaid Domestic Duties,” as most women were who did not have a job were described. Elinor L. (or Linda E.) Maddox D’Arcy had been born on the 11th June 1906 was also doing, ”Unpaid Domestic Duties,” but she was an A.R.P. (Ambulance Driver). Linda Elinor was to marry a Bartholomew B. Fashoda in the June quarter of 1945 (Wallasey Vol. 8a Page 1680). Elsa Maddox had been born on the 26th April 1908 and again was doing ”Unpaid Domestic Duties.” Elsa was to marry in the June quarter of 1940 a William H. R. Johnson, (Wallasey Vol. 8a Page 2226).
Michael Harry D’Arcy, James Marcus’s father, sadly died in the 21st April 1940, his Probate confirms his death:- D’ARCY, Michael Harry of 23, Ennerdale-road, Wallasey, Cheshire, died 21st April 1940. Probate Liverpool 29th June to Maud D’Arcy widow and Andrew John Byrne Cotton Broker.
In the same quarter – April – June 1940, James Marcus’s step sister Elsa D’Arcy (Formerly Maddox) married in Wallasey, as stated above.
On the 5th of August 1940 after arriving at Liverpool, from New York, the “Eastern Prince” would have had to run the gauntlet across the Atlantic through the U-boat dangers, the ship carried James Marcus back home to 23, Ennerdale Road, Wallasey, he was now 25 years old and still a Cotton Buyer and still a resident of Peru.
So it seems that he had come home to enlist and grieve his father, as by the 8th of November 1941, the day he died, James had enlisted, gone through training and had qualified as a Sergeant in 49 Squadron, in just over a year, and was flying on that fateful day to his death.
https://www.49squadron.co.uk/personnel_index/rolls_of_honour
I wrote to the No. 49 Squadron from the website to ask for permission to use the information and photographs of the crew of Hampden P1206 EA-Z and this is the reply from Ed Norman, WW11 Archivist. Many thanks to him and the 49 Squadron Website.
Hello Mavis,
Thank you for contacting our association. The crew of Hampden P1206 EA-Z were of particular interest to us because two of the crew remained missing until 2007.
The bodies of the pilot, W/O Christopher Saunders DFM and the navigator Sgt. James D’Arcy were thrown clear of the crash and recovered by the Germans. They were buried in the cemetery at Bergen. However, the bodies of the two gunners could not be recovered and sank into the soft ground with the remains of their aircraft.
Sergeants Stanley Mullenger and John Kehoe lay with the aircraft until September 2007 when a Dutch salvage team, led by Capt. Paul Peterson of the RNAF, excavated the site and recovered human remains as well as substantial pieces of the Hampden
On May 7th 2008, a Commemorative Service for the crew was held in Petrus and Paulus Church, Bergen incorporating a funeral service, with full Military Honours, for the two gunners. The single coffin, containing the mortal remains of the gunners and draped in the Union Flag, was borne by six SAC’s of the Queen’s Colour Squadron, No. 63 Squadron, RAF Regiment.
Sgts Mullinger and Kehoe were laid to rest directly behind their comrade’s graves and their headstones are back to back with them. Thus, the mortal remains of the crew of Hampden P1206 were reunited in 2008 in a ceremony attended by me and the other members of our ‘crew’ ( we do not consider ourselves a committee, but as there are seven of us, we call ourselves a ‘crew.)
Also attending were the twin daughters of pilot Saunders and the families of Sgts Kehoe and Mullinger.
The remains of P1206 were returned to RAF Scampton and are now on display in the heritage museum at RAF Scampton.
Hampden P1206 EA-Z
On the 8th of November 1941 five of 49 Squadron’s aircraft were detailed for operations against Essen; three on bombing sorties and two for searchlight-suppression and intruder attacks. Bomber Command had dispatched a total of 54 aircraft on the bombing raid assisted by 8 Hampden intruders. Large fires were started in the target area but the cost was high.
Hampdens P1206 EA-Z and AD896 had taken off from RAF Scampton between 5.14 and 5.16pm to bomb and disable the searchlights at Bocholt. Hampden AD896 returned to base safely at 11.12pm. On the return journey EA-Z was intercepted over the Dutch coast by an ME110 piloted by Ofw Seigfried Ney of II/NJG 2. The burning aircraft was seen to circle before crashing, just after 9pm, into a field near the village of Berkhout, Holland where it burned for many hours.
Please feel free to copy the photographs and any information you require. I am happy to assist further but sadly, I do not have a better photograph of Sgt D’Arcy.
Thank you for remembering our airmen.
Kind Regards,
Ed Norman, WW11 Archivist
Michael Henry (Harry) D’ARCY died on the 21st April 1940, James Marcus D’ARCY died on the 8th November 1941. Maude D’Arcy had to deal with a lot of bereavement in such a short time. She survived until the September quarter of 1952, her Probate is below:-
D’ARCY, Maude of 23, Ennerdale-road, Wallasey, Cheshire, widow died 7th September 1952. Probate Liverpool 25th November to Arthur James BYRNE Cotton Merchant and Edward HAYGARTH accountant.
However the family made sure that James Marcus’s name will live into perpetuity by adding his name to the Halkyn WW2 War Memorial, he gave his tomorrow for our today.
ADDENDUM:-
Throughout all my research I could not find any connection really to Halkyn, but James Marcus is remembered there and the Commonwealth War Graves have his parents Michael Henry & Maude D’Arcy living in Halkyn when all the names were registered and eventually published. Any help would be appreciated.
