De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 1 page 245
Bond of Sacrifice, page 236
Photo: Linda Marshall private collection
Ian Sim has submitted the following:
Roger was the third son [youngest] of Lt. Col Marshall of Annstead, Chathill, Northumberland, and was born on the 25th January 1891.
He was educated [for a short time at Merchiston Castle School, where he won the half mile handicap], then privately and at the age of 18 joined the Royal Field Artillery Special Reserve. During his time in the R.F.A. he learned to fly at the army flying school at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain. He was granted an aviator’s certificate (number 470) by the Royal Aero Club on the 30th. April 1913.
At the outbreak of the war he sat and passed his army entrance examination and was gazetted a 2nd. Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry on the 15th July 1914.
He joined his regiment on the 6th August 1914. On the 10th September 1914 the battalion was sent to France as part of the 6th division of the British Army. He was almost immediately involved in the fierce fighting in the first battle of the Aisne and was killed in action near the French town of Soissons on the 20th September. He died only four days after arriving at the front line and ten days after arriving in France. Contemporary accounts reveal him to be a popular and brave officer. His dying words as recounted by a Corporal Bell who was standing next to him in the trench were; ‘Surrender be hanged! stand up and fight!’
[He was killed when fighting while the Durhams were enfiladed but held firm].
His body was not recovered, but his death is recorded at the Cemetery of La Ferte Sous Jouarre, Departement Aisne et Marne, Ile de France. He is remembered in the Marshall family grave on the east wall of Beadnell cemetery and in this church.
He was a very good shot, both with gun and rifle, and a particularly cool and fearless rider in the hunting field.
The Marshall family of Annstead
Lt. Col. Anthony Marshall, who is remembered on the brass plaque on the north wall of this church, bought Annstead farm in 1879. He and his wife Jessie had seven children, four boys and three girls. As well as being an honorary colonel in the Northumberland Fusiliers Anthony served as a JP, magistrate and held positions on many other county committees. As can be seen he served as vicar’s warden to this parish for 57 years. Of his four sons, two died in the 1914-18 war, his second (Selby) and fourth (Roger). His eldest son Richard did not serve and lived at Shepherds Cottage where he died in 1947.
His third son (Anthony) had made the army his career. Anthony went to Edinburgh Academy and then Sandhurst, joining the Northumberland Fusiliers in 1902. Before the Great War he served in India and South Africa where he was awarded the Queen’s Medal. In the meantime he had learned to fly and was attached to the Royal Flying Corps. During the war, in 1915, he was wounded whilst on a flying reconnaissance mission and for this action was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. The action is graphically described in the adjoining extract published just after the event. He survived the war, married and continued in army service in India. Like his father he achieved the rank of Lt. Col. He died on the 28th February 1969, aged 86.
All the family are either buried or remembered in the family grave in Beadnell Cemetery, as well as in this church.
Roger's father is remembered at Beadnell on B10.02 as one of those who served. His rank then was a Major.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
Additional research:- James Pasby
Bond of Sacrifice, page 236.
David Thompson has submitted the following:-
Born on 25 January 1891, at Annstead, Chathill, Northumberland, the son of Anthony Marshall, formerly Lieutenant Colonel 3rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, and his wife, Jessie, of Annstead.
Educated for a short time at Merchiston Castle School, where he won the half-mile handicap, then privately.
Marshall was a very good shot, both with gun and rifle, and a particularly cool and fearless rider in the hunting field.8
On 10 August 1910, entered the Royal Field Artillery’s Special Reserve.
Awarded Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 470 on 30 April 1913 at Bristol School, Larkhill, Salisbury Plain. Marshall qualified flying on a Bristol Biplane.6
On 15 July 1914, Marshall was gazetted to the 2nd DLI as 2nd Lieutenant, and joined on 6 August.
On 20 September 1914, only four days after his arrival at the Front, Marshall was killed in action as the Durham's held their ground despite enfilading fire. His last words were: 'Surrender be hanged! Stand up and fight!', as related by Corporal Bell who was beside him when he died.
Roger Marshall is remembered at Beadnell on B10.01
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 254
