World War II George Cross Recipient. Born in Llanddulas, North Wales, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force in 1942 and became a Flight Sergeant in the 112 Squadron, Desert Air Force. In late August 1944, he was shot down over Northern Italy while undertaking an armed reconnaissance operation. He tried to reach the Allied lines, but had much difficulty due to heavy enemy activity. During the following months he managed to join up with a partisan resistant group and helped them in actions against the enemy. In early December 1944, in an attempt to cross to Allied territory with a band of partisans, Banks was betrayed and captured by German forces. He was tortured by German authorities and the Italian Militia over a period of several days for information, but he remained silent. He was then stripped, doused in petrol, set afire before being weighted down and thrown into a river. He managed to survive, swim to the river bank and escape. He was recaptured by Italian Fascists near Argenta, Italy and was executed on December 20, 1944. After the war, his captors were tried by a War Crimes Tribunal and were imprisoned. For his courage even in the face of most brutal and inhuman treatment, he was posthumously awarded the George Cross presented to his father by King George VI on November 5, 1946.
World War II George Cross Recipient. Born in Llanddulas, North Wales, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force in 1942 and became a Flight Sergeant in the 112 Squadron, Desert Air Force. In late August 1944, he was shot down over Northern Italy while undertaking an armed reconnaissance operation. He tried to reach the Allied lines, but had much difficulty due to heavy enemy activity. During the following months he managed to join up with a partisan resistant group and helped them in actions against the enemy. In early December 1944, in an attempt to cross to Allied territory with a band of partisans, Banks was betrayed and captured by German forces. He was tortured by German authorities and the Italian Militia over a period of several days for information, but he remained silent. He was then stripped, doused in petrol, set afire before being weighted down and thrown into a river. He managed to survive, swim to the river bank and escape. He was recaptured by Italian Fascists near Argenta, Italy and was executed on December 20, 1944. After the war, his captors were tried by a War Crimes Tribunal and were imprisoned. For his courage even in the face of most brutal and inhuman treatment, he was posthumously awarded the George Cross presented to his father by King George VI on November 5, 1946.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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