Private 31898 Herbert Cecil Marsh

Census details:
1901 - 9 years old Herbert C is living at 34 Hamer Street, St Helens with parents John (31), Annie (30) and four siblings: Martha (8), John (6), James (4), Edith (1). 1911 - Sees 19 years old 'Glass Works Clerk' Herbert C and sister Edith Marsh (11) living at 103 North Road, St Helens with aunts Martha Marsh (37), Emily Marsh (30), Sarah Marsh (27).

Notes:
[url=lmem.php?lmem=26]Remembered on the West Park Old Boys Memorial[/url] [url=lmem.php?lmem=24]Also Remembered on The West Park Memorial in St Georges Chapel, Ypres.[/url] Age taken from census.

Herbert Marsh's Medal Index Card does not have a Date of Entry into any Theatre of War, which means that he did not serve overseas before 1916. I believe his number, 31898, was issued to the Depot Battalion around mid-1916, which suggests that Herbert joined the 2nd Battalion as part of a replacement draft, probably in late 1916 or early 1917. In late July of 1917, the 2nd Battalion were part of 75th Brigade, and were about to participate in the Third Battle of Ypres (better known as Passchendaele), which started ion 31st July The Battalion had to consolidate and hold a line on the Westhoek Ridge which had been taken on the first day of the battle. This position was of vital importance to the Germans, and after infantry counter attacks had been constantly repulsed, they tried to obliterate the 2nd Battalion defenders by shell fire. This continued for six days, after which the Battalion was reduced to just 200 or so men still capable of fighting, these being finally relieved on 5th August. The final death toll for 3rd August alone was 14 men killed. Of these, 11 have no known grave and are commemorated on the Menin Gate, including Herbert Marsh. Herbert was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. His brothers also served, John with the Labour Corps and James with the King's (Liverpool) Regiment. (Stephen Nulty) [pic]imgs/WW1_misc/Marsh_HC_SLR.jpg[/pic][caption]The St Helens Newspaper & Advertiser
Courtesy Ste M[/caption] [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/SLR_Privates_Menin_Gate_3.jpg[/pic][caption]The panel on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial bearing the inscription for Private Herbert Cecil Marsh (Photo courtesy of Ste M.)[/caption] [pic]imgs/WW1_ext/LoweHouseMem2.jpg[/pic] [caption]Herbert is also remembered on the [url=lmem.php?lmem=10]Lowe House Memorial[/url][/caption]