Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: P. Priano
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Marshall Jnr. one of 3 known children, was the eldest of his siblings and only son of William Marshall of Greenlaw Hill, Berwickshire, Scotland, born 1857 and Elizabeth Ann Spoors born 1854 at Paradise, Northumberland, they were married in 1881 in the parish of St. Nicholas, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. William Jnr was born in 1883, Christiana in 1885 and their sister Isabella in 1887. Living in 1891 at 20, Bigg Market, Newcastle, they and their mother were supported by William Snr employed as a warehouse caretaker, however, they had moved to Grey’s Court by 1901, William Snr was now a groom/horse keeper, William Jnr (18) a druggist’s packer. To increment the family income they had taken in 2 boarders, Thomas Flint (36) and Richard Lowther (33), both grocer’s assistants.
William was married December 17th 1905 in the parish of St Nicholas, Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Isabella Picken a local girl born 1884, their daughter Gladys was born in 1907 and Elizabeth Ann in 1910, named in remembrance of her grandmother Elizabeth Ann Marshall nee Spoors who had died in 1909 aged 55 years. They lived with his father, now employed as a carter, at St Martin’s Court, Newgate Street, William Jnr was a ship plater’s helper.
England declared a state of war existed with Germany in August 1914, William Marshall enlisted, exact date unknown, assigned as a Private to the newly formed 10th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, part of Kitchener’s Third New Army. The battalion moved to Hampshire and joined the 68th Brigade, 23rd Division at Bullswater Camp. At the end of February 1915 they transferred to Shorncliffe, Kent, where some of the infantry were involved in constructing defences to the south of London in April and May before returning to Hampshire, from where they proceeded to France, during the third week of August 1915, landing at Boulogne, concentrating near Tilques. After a period of trench familiarisation in the Merris-Vieux Berquin area with the 20th and 27th Divisions they took over the sector Ferme Grande Flamerngrie to the Armentieres-Wez Macquart road. They participated during the Battle of Loos holding the front line at Bois Grenier before being relieved at the end of January 1916.
It was around this time that Private 265004 William Marshall arrived at the front just as his battalion took over the Boyau de L’Ersatz and Souchez River area from the French 17th Division. Early March many of the battalion were transferred, due to their mining experience, to the Royal Engineers Tunnelling Company. Their tour complete the battalion returned to Bruay for a rest period before taking over the Souchez front just as the German forces attacked at Vimy Ridge, April 21st 1916 in support of the 47th (London) Division. June 1st they began to move to the Somme and saw action including the Battle of Albert July 1st-13th where they captured Contalmaison, Bazentin Ridge July 14th-17th, Pozieres July 23rd-September 3rd, Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd, Morval September 25th-28th and Le Transloy October 1st-18th 1916 before transferring to the Ypres salient in Belgium. They participated at the Battle of Messines, Menin Road, Polygon Wood and the 1st and 2nd Battles of Passchendaele before transferring to Italy in November 1917.
Having risen through the ranks the now Serjeant 265004 William Marshall was killed in action, September 20th 1917 the first day of the Battle of Menin Road. Post war during the clearing of the battlefields his remains were found at map reference J. 19. b. 80. 20. no cross was found and he was identified by means of a disc. June 4th 1921 he was brought into Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium for reburial with all honour and reverence by an Army chaplain, he is at rest grave IX. F. 43. At the time of his demise in 1917 he was 35 years of age.
His widow received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their three children, as she had given birth to a son during the 3rd quarter (July/Aug/Sep) 1917 whom she named William, also his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her 5, St Martin’s Court, Newgate Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
The joy of William Marshall Jnr’s birth was marred not only by the death of his father but also that of his grandfather during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1917. The husband of William’s sister Isabella, Lance Corporal Arthur Ainslie Gosling was also a casualty of war, he died in England, July 15th 1918.
Isabella Marshall nee Picken does not appear to have remarried and may have died at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1968 aged 85 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Marshall is remembered at Newcastle on NUT045
