Cyril Banks Obituary , Death – Recently, at the age of 97, Cyril Banks, who had served in the military during the Second World War, passed away. We ask that you participate with us in remembering him. Cyril joined the Royal Navy in 1943, the year he turned 18, and was given a job on the minesweeper HMS Ready.
He served for the duration of the war. The HMS Ready was dispatched to the Channel in order to provide support to the minesweeping operations that were taking place in the time leading up to the Normandy Landings. On the actual day of D-Day, HMS Ready commanded the mine-clearing flotilla that was stationed off Gold Beach. This flotilla was located in the area just north of Utah Beach.
This flotilla was in a state of continual peril, as coastal guns or German planes could launch an assault at any moment. After that, Cyril did his time aboard an LST, which is an abbreviation that stands for “Landing Ship, Tank.” Craft in the Channel before making sail for the Far East, where he took part in operations against the Japanese and assisted in the repatriation of Australian prisoners of war.
During his time in the Far East, he was also responsible for the repatriation of Japanese prisoners of war. During the time that he spent in the Far East, he was also accountable for ensuring the protection of Australian prisoners of war. In his later years, Cyril became an ambassador for a charitable organization known as “The Not Forgotten.”
When he was 88 years old, he abseiled off of a water tower that was 110 feet high, and he wing-walked for 12 minutes on a biplane that was going at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour. Both of these actions were done to earn money for the charitable organization. It was claimed about him that he was “the life and soul of the party” and that he was extremely generous with his time. Cyril, I am appreciative of the help that you have provided. Lest We Forget.
We will never forget the sacrifice you made for our country, and now that your service is finished, we will honor you by allowing you to rest in peace. We will never forget what you did for our country. You have our respect, and we hope that life in the afterlife treats you well. May you finally find rest, Sir. I ask you to please accept my sincerest sympathies and to know that you have my thoughts and gratitude for everyone who was a part of your life.