Pte 23100 George Marshall

• Age: 29
• From: Walsall, Staffs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 28th March 1918
• Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
  Panel Ref: P21-23

George Marshall was born in Walsall, Staffordshire on the 16th July 1888, the son of Thomas Marshall and his wife Susannah (nee Brown) who were married in Walsall, Staffordhire on the 25th August 1873. He was baptised on the 16th August 1888 at St Paul's Church, Walsall.

On the 1891 census the enlarged family are living at 34-35 Queen St (Prince of Wales), Pleck, Walsall. George's father, Thomas, is aged 39 and is a brewer born in Walsall, his mother Annie is also 39 and was born in Manchester. Their children were all born Walsall and are listed as; John 14 scholar, Thomas 12 scholar, Fred 10 scholar, Clara 8 scholar, Frank 6 scholar, and George 3.

His father, Thomas, of 35 Queens Street, died on the 16th August 1895 at Rempstone House, St Peter's Road, Bournemouth, probate 06th November to Susannah Marshall. Effects £1,482 10s.

His mother, Susannah,also of 35 Queens Street, died on the 05th August 1899, probate 05th October to Archibald Wilkes Yardley brewer and Edwin James licensed victualler. Effects £509 14s 6d.

On the 1901 census the family are still living at the Prince of Wales, but with their 70 year old widowed grandmother Julia Marshall who was the licensed victualler. John is 24 a carpenter, Frederick 21 lithographer, Clara 18, Frank 16 a buckle maker, and George is 12.

On the 1911 census George, aged 22, is now boarding with the Evans family at 55 Merseyton Road, Ellesmere Port where he is a porter with the Canal Carrying Co.

His brother Frederick died in 1913, aged 33.

George enlisted in Liverpool on 09th November 1914, joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 23100 giving his age as 25 years and 4 months. He is described as being 5'7 inches tall, weighed 160lbs and had a 39 inch chest. He is of fresh complexion with brown hair and brown eyes. His next of kin was given as his brother Frank of 22 Kinneley Street, Walsall.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. Whilst at Knowsley Hall, he was fined 2 days pay for being absent between 05/04/15 and 06/04/15. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. Whilst at Grantham he was again fined for absence, this time 3 days pay for 16th July to 18th July 1915.They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 20th December 1915. He was treated at a Feild Ambulance between 19th November and 25th November 1916. He saw action throughout the Somme campaign of 1916, as well as the Arras and Passchendaele battles of 1917.

He was  posted to the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment  on 07th February 1918 following the disbandment of the 20th Battalion.

George was killed in action on the 28^th March, 1918, aged 25, during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary records the events of the day as follows:

During the morning the enemy attacked the troops on our right flank and succeeded in capturing ARVILLERS, menacing our right flank. Three companies of the Battalion had to be immediately echeloned backwards as protection, the Battalion engaging the enemy, who were attempting to come out of ARVILLERS. This position was held during heavy fighting until 2pm when the Battalion was informed that French troops had come into position in the rear. In order for the Division to be relieved the Battalion had to hold their ground whilst the 2^nd Bedfordshire Regt and 2^nd Bn. R.S.F.’s passed through on their way to the rear. At 4pm the Battalion commenced to move off in small parties, passing through the French, and marching through MEZIERES, MOREUIL to MORISEL where hot dinner was provided. The Battalion then formed up and moved up by companies to ROUVREL and were billeted for the night. By this time the total casualties had reached 23 Officers and 457 O.R.

He was listed as Missing in the Walsall Observer on 08th June 1918. It was not until 27th August 1920 that the family received a letter confirming George's death on 28th March 1918, this was in answer to a letter that his brother Frank had sent to the authorities asking for definite news concerning him. 

George has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in France.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

Soldiers Effects went to executor Philip Emery, no Pension record found. 

In a sworn declaration on 03rd September 1919, his brother Frank declared that the surviving relatives of George, were himself and 3 sisters. Frank received George's medals and plaque in 1920.

Three days later Frank posted a Memorial notice in the Walsall Observer  on 6th September 1919:

MARSHALL - In loving memory of our dear brother Pte George Marshall of the 19th King's Liverpool Regt., who was reported missing on March 28th, 1918, now presumed to have died on that date. Always remembered by Frank, Nellie and the Children.

We currently have no further information on George Marshall, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.