Flying Officer Donald James Taylor Marr 163554 RAFVR
Donald James Taylor Marr was born on 14th November 1923 in Ealing. He was the oldest child of Emily Alice Oakley Nicholls and Adam Taylor Marr. Donald had one sister Elizabeth (Bette) Muriel.
Donald’s father worked for the railways. The family lived at 153, Midhurst Road, West Ealing.
Donald’s father worked for the railways. The family lived at 153, Midhurst Road, West Ealing.
Donald completed his training in Canada and on 4th November 1944, at 17.37 took off from RAF Lissett, on his first ever bombing raid, just 2 weeks before his 21st birthday. He never returned.
Donald was originally interred in a communal grave at Gemeinde Cemetery Wetten. The Crew’s bodies were later exhumed and re-buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetary, Germany. Donald and F/O Carrall share a communal grave and a temporary cross was erected, later replaced by a permanent headstone.
Donald was originally interred in a communal grave at Gemeinde Cemetery Wetten. The Crew’s bodies were later exhumed and re-buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetary, Germany. Donald and F/O Carrall share a communal grave and a temporary cross was erected, later replaced by a permanent headstone.
The Crew's families were all in contact with each other for a number of years. The Carrall family sponsored the Marr family when they decided to emigrate to Australia. Members of the Carrall family visited Mr & Mrs MacPherson even once they had moved to a retirement village.
Donald's father wrote a letter of condolence to Sgt Horace Lindsay's mother.
Donald's father wrote a letter of condolence to Sgt Horace Lindsay's mother.
Donald is remembered on the Ealing War Memorial on Ealing Green, Ealing. Please follow the link below:
http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Middlesex/Ealing.html
http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Middlesex/Ealing.html
F/O Donald JT Marr is remembered on the Walls of Names at International Bomber Command Centre just outside Lincoln. Nearly 58000 men and women serving and supporting Bomber Command during WW2 are remembered on these Walls.
Diane Rogers placing a poppy on the Wall bearing F/O Donald Marr's name
Photograph courtesy of Diane Rogers
Photograph courtesy of Diane Rogers
The Spire Memorial and some of the Walls of Names at International Bomber Command Centre Lincoln
Photograph courtesy of Diane Rogers
Photograph courtesy of Diane Rogers
York Minster Astronomical Clock and Book of Remembrance
In York Minster, there is this beautiful memorial to the men of the Royal Air Force working from bases in Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland who were killed in WW2. In this glass case, there is a Book remembering every Airman who died in WW2. The photo above shows the page with Flying Officer Donald J T Marr's name on it (2nd name from the top, left hand column). The staff at York Minster were more than happy to open the glass case for us allowing us to see each page of the 5 crewmen who died from Rosie Galapagos on 4th November 1944.
Photographs taken by Nick Corps August 2023
Lissett Airfield Wind Farm and RAF Lissett, Driffield, Yorkshire
Photographs taken by Nick & Sally Corps August 2023