Max (Marks) was born on 18 March 1919 in Whitechapel, London to Poland born parents Jacob and Annie nee Zusman and he was one of seventeen children of whom thirteen survived to adulthood. Jacob worked as a tailor of gentlemen’s coats and in 1921 the family lived at 122 Old Montague Street, Whitechapel in London.

Jacob died in 1935 and the family moved to Stepney, London. At the outbreak of war Max was working as a cabinet maker and he attested on 1 December 1941. In July 1942 he married Maisie De Swarte.

Max was killed serving in Italy.