FRANCIS HAROLD MARSHALL |
Private 67039
1st Btn Sherwood Foresters ( Notts & Derbys Regt)
Died Sunday 4th March 1917, Aged 22.
Commemorated: Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France
Pier & Face: 10C 10D and 11A
Francis Howard Marshall was born at Selston,
Nottinghamshire, on 15th February 1895 and was christened on the 2nd
June in the same year, at St
Helen’s, Selston, Nottinghamshire. He was the youngest son of John Henry and
Sarah Ann Marshall. The 1901
Census, records the family then living at Dove Green Selston, as follows:- John
Henry (aged 37 years), Sarah Ann (aged 36 years), John George (13), Alfred Lewis
(12), Florence Mary (4), Francis Harold (6) and Gertrude Maud (2).
The family later moved to “Oakdene”, Laverick Road, Jacksdale and
John Henry is listed here on the 1915 Electoral Roll.
His father, John Henry, better known as ‘Henry’ was an engine driver.
By 1915, Francis’ elder brother, John George was living in Albert Avenue.
Francis was employed by Thomas Mycroft, Butchers of Lower
Somercotes, Derbyshire and prior to this occupied a similar position with a Mr
Saint of Jacksdale, Nottinghamshire.
Private Marshall joined the forces on 23rd May 1916 at
Alfreton, Derbyshire. An Obituary
in The Eastwood & Kimberley Advertiser dated Friday 18th May 1917
reports that since the end of October 1916, he was in the ‘thick of the
fighting.’ The Sherwood Forester’s Roll states that he did not join the
Batallion until the 24th November 1916, when he joined C Company of
the 1st Btn Sherwood Foresters.
On Sunday 4th March 1917, aged 22 years, Private Marshall was killed
instantaneously by shell fire, during an advance on the enemy trenches, near
Andover, France.
Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France, which bears the names of
72,000 officers and men who have no known grave. Francis is also mentioned on the family grave in St Mary’s Churchyard, Westwood and on the Jacksdale War Memorial.A Private Fred George Marshall, 92788, 3rd Btn,
Sherwood Foresters is also listed on the Jacksdale Memorial as having served.
From the 1918, Absent Voters Roll we have been able to ascertain that
Fred George Marshall lived in Sedgwick Street, Jacksdale and was perhaps a
cousin of Francis. We would be very
interested to know if Francis Howard and Fred George Marshall are related,
particularly as the newspaper obituary, that follows, states that Francis Howard
Marshall was the ‘youngest’ son.
There is also a Private Ralph Marshall, 7633885, Ordnance
Corps who died during WW2 as a prisoner of war on the Siam/Burma Railway.
His father was named John George Marshall, probably the brother of
Francis Howard Marshall, which would indicate that Ralph was Francis’ nephew.
The 1915 Electoral Roll also lists a Joseph Marshall of Main Road, Jacksdale, a Henry Marshall of Albert Avenue and an Albert Marshall of Laverick Road. We would be interested to establish whether they were relatives.
Last updated 27/12/02