Mark was born in 1908 in Whitechapel, London to Lithuania born parents Joseph, a shoe maker and a market trader, and Rachel nee Sall. When Rachel died in 1921, Mark and his brothers Morris and Solomon were sent to live in a children’s home in Southall, Middlesex. His youngest brother Solomon (Stanley) emigrated to Canada and is listed as the next of kin on Mark’s record of death.

Mark was an able seaman on the S.S. Winamac which was travelling from Trinidad to the Azores with a cargo of 12,500 tons of fuel oil. At 14.17 hours on 31 Aug 1942 the ship which was unescorted was hit in the engine room by one of two torpedoes from U-66 about 390 miles east of Trinidad. The tanker burst into flames and sank quickly. The master, 26 crew members and three gunners were lost. 21 crew members were picked up by the Empire Lugard and landed at Trinidad.