John Marshall

Office Row, Barrington

Household Cavalry badge

Private John Marshall, (1881 – 1955), served with the Household Cavalry (1st Life Guards) with Service Number 3436. He served at Home (London) in 1914 – 1918

John Marshall was born at Stone Row, Barrington near to Bedlington on 22nd June 1881 and died at Ponteland Hospital, Ponteland Newcastle at the age of 73 in 1955. John’s parents were Margaret Wilkinson nee Strong) and John Marshall who both died in 1885 when John was 13 years old. In 1891, John was still living at Stone Row at the age of nine and when aged 19, when the census was taken he was a boarder living at 5, George and Dragon Yard, Morpeth; he was employed as a miner at this time.

Later in 1901 he married Catherine Simm at the Wesleyan Chapel, Manchester Street Morpeth. The witnesses at the wedding which took place on 30th May were John W Strong and Edward John Simm. Their marriage created 15 children, five boys and ten girls several of these children had the middle name Simm. Sadly three of their children, Francis Simm, Henry Simm and George Simm died in their first year.

John enlisted in 1914 when living at 8, Edward Street Morpeth and his military details are shown below. In 1938, John was living at 7, Office Row, Barrington and was now 57 years old. His wife Catherine died on 23rd October 1945 while living at this address. John died age 73 on 9th April 1955 at Ponteland Hospital, Ponteland Newcastle upon Tyne.

Census information shows he was a coal miner in 1901 and 1911. John also worked as a Shaft Sinker and worked on the widening of the Margery Shaft at Bedlington A Colliery. Four out of his five sons worked in the pits at various times.

John Marshall was one of many Bedlington soldiers whose enlistment was not recorded in the Record of Enlistments which is held at St Cuthbert’s Church at Bedlington. However full Service Records are available for this soldier who served for four years with his battalion where his duties were in London.

John Marshall joined the Household Cavalry, which consists of the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals which are the oldest and most senior regiments in the British Amy, enlisting at Newcastle upon Tyne on 2nd November 1914. At this time he was living with his family at 8, Edward Street, Morpeth and was 33½ years old.

John served at home from 2nd November 1914 until 17th September 1918 for a total of three years and 320 days. The description of John in the military records show he was tall, by the standards of the day, at 5’ 10” and was 12 stone in weight with chest measurement of 39”. He has a fresh complexion with blue eyes and light brown hair. His religion is shown as Church of England which is surprising as he was baptised and married in the Wesleyan Methodist Church. On being passed fit for the Army he was appointed to the 1st Life Guards. John was an acting Corporal during his military service.

His medical history shows he was a miner and was admitted to hospital for 29 days May / June 1915 with a wound to the shin. Bearing in mind he would have been working with horses and did not enter the theatres of war, it’s likely a horse caused the injury. His records show he was posted to London and he suffered from muscular rheumatism and muscular myalgia in his arms, shoulders and sometimes hips probably linked to his time working in the coal mines.

The records confirm John volunteered early days of the World War 1 but did not serve in foreign parts and was posted to London. His role would have been important and he was a valuable part of the war effort and he made his contribution. John returned to the mining industry after his military service.