WILLIAM MARSHALL
Photograph courtesy of Carl Mann.
Known as GUS.
Born: 1894, Ipswich.
Died: 12th October 1916; age 22; KiA the Battle of Transloy
Residence: 9, Finchley Road, Ipswich.
Enlistment Location: Ipswich.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 43143
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 7th Battalion.
Formerly: 1069, Suffolk Regiment.
Medals Awarded: Victory & British War + Territorial Force War Medal.
The body was found exhumed and identified by a Cross on a grave in 1920 before reburial at Beaulencourt British Cemetery with many unknown/unnamed soldiers.
Grave Reference:
III. A. 16.
Beaulencourt British Cemetery,
Ligny-Thilloy,
Pas de Calais,
France.
CENSUS
1901 9, Finchley Road, Ipswich.
William was 6 years old and living with his parents
Walter Thomas Marshall, 44, a Labourer at a shoe & boot factory; born Ipswich.
Eliza Marshall (nee Griss), 39; born Ipswich.
Lilian Eliza Marshall, 20, a Servant – Domestic Help, born Ipswich.
Florence Marshall, 17, a Boot Fitter in Boot Factory, born Ipswich.
Ellen Marshall, 15, a Boot Fitter in Boot Factory, born Ipswich.
Dorothy Maud Marshall, 12, Mother’s Help at home, born Ipswich.
Walter Charles Marshall, 10, born Ipswich.
George Allen Marshall, 8, born Ipswich.
Bertie Marshall, 4, born Ipswich.
Edith Emily Marshall, 3, born Ipswich.
Edward Daniel Marshall, 5 months, born Ipswich.
1911 9, Finchley Raod, Ipswich.
William was 16 years old a Butcher’s Lad living with his parents.
Walter, 55, an Insurance Agent for Wesleyan & General.
Eliza, 49.
Ellen, 25, a Shoe Fitter at a Boot Manufacturer.
Walter, 20, a Cashier at a House Furnisher.
George, 18, a Clicker at a Boot Manufacturer.
Bertie, 14 an Errand Boy at a Draper.
Edith, 13.
Edward, 10.
Percy Albert Marshall, 8, born Ipswich.
Doris Susannah Marshall, 5, born Ipswich.
On the 26th October 1913, William’s sister, Dorothy Maud Marshall, of 9, Finchley Road, Ipswich died, she was 25 years of age.
In 1916, Ipswich, William married Kathleen Victoria Peake, of Little Crown and Anchor Inn, Ipswich, born July 1896, Yaxley, Suffolk – daughter of Elisha Peake, a publican – own account and Emma Peake (nee Palmer), of Little Crown and Anchor Inn, Curve Street, Ipswich.
Soldiers’ Effects to Kathleen V. Marshall – widow.
William is also remembered on the war memorial at St. Margaret’s Church, Ipswich.
On the 11th October the Suffolk Regiment 7th Battalion, having been allotted its task in the Battle of Transloy (already in progress) received the orders to take part in an attack on “Bayonet Trench” and “Luisenhof farm”, which had been fixed for the 12th. Going in overnight, they were heavily shelled until they occupied their assembly trenches just before dawn. All the company headquarters were in a large dugout in the sunken road leading to Guedecourt wood. After passing a reasonably quiet forenoon the battalion set out across the open at 2 p.m. coming immediately under a very heavy crossfire of every description, but mainly from machine guns and automatic rifles. Close to the German trenches the attack was held up by machinegun nests and wire, and waves, unable to get any further, lay down. At this juncture, remarkable bravery was displayed by several officers, non-commissioned officers, and men. Luet. Eagle is reported to have died fighting in the German first line, into which he had forced an entrance alone. 2nd Lieut. Marshall, in a shell-hole with his servant and a sergeant, was bombed and sniped all afternoon, and later killed. They were close up against the German wire but refused to go back. Captain Isham, badly wounded during the afternoon, spent the night in a shell-hole, being visited by Lieut. Bowen (himself wounded), who remained with him till dark.
The full story of this sad day, on which the 7th Battalion sustained over 500 casualties, has never been described in print. Let it suffice to say that all ranks, especially the reinforcements which recently arrived from the 6th Cyclist Battalion (becoming the 7th), acquitted themselves admirably.
The failure of the attack was due in some measure to the fact that the enemy’s wire had been only partially destroyed and that the barrage during the launching of the attack was ineffective.
Before zero hour Captain Leith-Hay-Clarke had been twice buried by shells. Of the fourteen officers who went over the top on this occasion, all became casualties.
For his part in the action Rev. A.E Cousins, chaplain to the 7th Battalion received the Military Cross.
Lieut. Bowen, wounded for the second time in three months was also awarded the Military Cross.
Transcript from “The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 by Lieut. Col. C.C.R Murphy”
Suffolk Regiment, 7th Battalion:
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