Lance Corporal 19135 William Marsh

Killed in Action on Wednesday, 18th October 1916, age 26.
Commemorated on Pier and Face 5 A and 6 C of Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

4th Bn., Worcestershire Regiment. 88th Brigade of 29th Division.

Son of William Marsh, of 281 Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Dudley, Resident: Dudley.

First landed France & Flanders, 25th April 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Commemorated on the Tipton Library Memorial.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/804741/

Genealogical Data

Birth of William Marsh registered March quarter 1890 in Dudley.

1901 Census
304 Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs.
William Marsh (45, Coal Miner, born Tipton), his wife Margaret (46, born Tipton), and their 5 children: Joseph (15, Coal Miner - Horse Driver below ground, born Tipton), Thomas (13, born Tipton), William (12, born Tipton), Arthur (6, born Tipton) and James (3, born Tipton).

1911 Census
281 Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs. (Parents ages are suspect)
William Marsh (45, Miner - Underground, born Tipton), his wife Margaret (49, born Tipton), and 4 of their 5 surviving children of 12: Thomas (22, Miner - Underground, born Tipton), William (21, Miner - Underground, born Tipton), Arthur (16, born Tipton), and James (14, born Tipton).

Personal Data

William was the brother of Thomas Marsh who was killed on 3rd July 1916 serving with the 10th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment.

After William's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £3/5/3d (3 pounds, 5 shillings and 3 pence); this was paid to his father, William, in October 1917. His War Gratuity was £9/0/0d (9 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his father in October 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that William had enlisted in approximately September 1914.

William's father, also William, lost 2 sons. His degree of dependancy upon his sons was obviously judged to be low, as he was granted a Dependant's Pension of 2/0d (2 shillings) per weeek, effective from 3rd July 1917.

Action resulting in his death

During September 1916, the Allies had gained the villages of Flers, Gueudecourt and Morval, for once giving the advantage of the high ground. The next objective was the low ridge between Gueudecourt and the village of Le Transloy - the Transloy Ridges.

In early October the 4th Worcesters returned to the Somme from the Ypres sector and on the 13th October took over part of the front line near Gueudecourt. A few days later, they were moved into trenches a mile further back to rest before an attack on the 18th October. At 8pm on the 17th October in pouring rain, the 4th Worcesters moved to their start position on the north of Gueudecourt. At 3.40am on the 18th, under an intense British bombardment, the Worcesters advanced northwards. As the barrage lifted, the Worcesters attacked, and made short work of, the German defenders. A sunken road beyond the captured trench line was also taken and the dugouts bombed and destroyed. More than 200 German troops were taken prisoner.

The attack was really over before light, and for the rest of the day the Worcesters took whatever cover they could, under a heavy German bombardment. Twice German counter-attacks ere seen to be forming up, but were stopped dead by rapid fire. The Worcesters held this position, in driving rain, until the next day when they were relieved.

At some stage during this attack, William Marsh was killed, and his body lost. He is one of over 70,000 men remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.