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Marsh, Edwin

Edwin Arthur Marsh was born in 1886. His parents were Thomas and Mary Marsh. The father, Thomas had been a stonemason, a trade that Arthur took over when his father died. The 1891 and 1901 census returns placed the large family in Yacht Terrace, Northop. His brother John Herbert Marsh was killed about five weeks before Arthur was killed. He has his own page on Sychdyn’s memorial on this website. Follow the link to John Herbert’s page to read more of the family story. The Marsh family provided at least five servicemen for the war.  Three of them, Arthur, John Herbert and Fred played cricket for Northop. There were ten children altogether (Edwin Arthur, Harry, Charles, Leonard, John Herbert, Wilson, Fred, Florence, Polly and Amy).

He joined up and signed his Attestation Form in Northop on the 2nd December 1915. He was 30 years old and described himself as a General Mason. A description of him at the time tells us he was 5 feet 8 1/4 inches tall with a chest measurement f 36 inches with a 2 inch expansion range. He requested that he be placed in the Royal Engineers.  He named as his next of kin his Mother Mary Marsh of Yacht Terrace High Street, Northop.

We see from the newspaper cutting below that he appealed against the date he was first given and was granted a month’s extension to get his affairs in order.  He was allocated to the Army Reserve until May 1916 when  he was placed in The Royal Gun Artillery.  He was mobilised on the 8th May 1916 and posted as part of the British Expeditionary Force in France two days later.

The records tell us that he received a gunshot wound to his right hand on the 15th May 1917 but he returned to duties fairly quickly. He was seriously wounded again on the 16th August 1917 and was evacuated to No 5 General Hospital in Rouen  where he died of his wounds on the 2nd September 1917.

The Army sent his personal possessions to his mother These included 2 discs, letters, photos, pipe, 2 cigarette cases, a wallet and a knife.

The UK Army Register of Effects in which the moneys owed to deceased soldiers was calculated  includes an entry for Edgar Arthur Marsh. It tells us that his Mother Mary received a total of £10 .. 15sh .. 9d in two separate payments. This source also confirms that he died in 5 General Hospital Rouen.

Scroll down below the Google map to see a number of images.

 

Follow the link to learn more about the 154th Siege Battery. Royal Garrison Artillery.

  • Edwin Arthur Marsh
    Many thanks to William Lamb, his Great Nephew, for sharing the photograph.

  • 31st March 1916

    The County Herald

  • 21st September 1917

    "Prominent Resident’s Death at the Front

    Considerable regret is expressed amongst the residents of Northop and surrounding localities of the sad official intimation, the effect that Gunner Edwin Arthur Marsh who was recently wounded in action, had died in in a base hospital. He was very well known in Northop and district where he successfully carried on the business of monumental mason, succeeding his father, Mr Thomas Marsh who died some years ago. He was 31 years of age and during his residence in the village was prominently associated with almost every public function. He was the sexton of the Parish Church, a bell ringer, a member of the Northop Cricket and Football Clubs and as he was generally respected, his loss will be keenly felt in the district."

    The County Herald

  • Many thanks to Mr Ainsley Lovelock for sharing with us this very special photograph of Northop’s football team. It is especially important because it names the players. Standing third from the back left is A Marsh.

  • We cannot be 100% sure but we believe this must be Arthur Marsh.

  • An advertisement from a Parish Magazine of 1914


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