Edwin Marsden
Edwin was a fitter on enlistment. He was the inventor of the improved trestle for bridge building accepted by the War Office, and known as the Marsden Band Trestle.
- Family History
- Military history
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Edwin Marsden was born in 1887 at Sheffield, the only son of Arthur Edwin an ivory handle dealer and Sarah Marsden née Tate he had a sister Ruth born in 1885 also at Sheffield.
His father Arthur Edwin was born in 1859 at Sheffield, his mother Sarah Tate was born in 1862 at Duffiled, they were married on 19th July 1883 at St Marks Church Sheffield, they had 2 children.
In 1901 Arthur Sarah and Ruth were living at 155 Cemetery Road Ecclesall Bierlow Sheffiel.
Edwin had left home and boarding at St Cuthber's College Sparken Hill Worksop.
By 1911 the family was living at Edge Hill Sheffield. Sarah 49 yrs is living with her daughtr Ruth 21 yrs of age.
2nd Corporal Edwin Marsden enlisted in Sheffield on 21st May 1908, he served with the 17th Field Company Royal Enginners, he landed in France on 18th August 1914 and was killed in action on 23rd August 1914, he is buried in Hautrage Military Cemetery Belgium Grave Reference: I D 12
The following is an entry taken from 'The Cuthbertain ' college magazine, volume XIX - No 6 dated Dec 1914.
It is with feelings of deep sorrow, mixed with pride, that we record the following loss.
It is recorded in an extract taken from the "High Peak News."
Major C. W. Singer, commanding the 17th Company R.E., writes this message to the father, dated
August 29th.
" I am more than sorry to have to acquaint you that Corporal Marsden was killed in action on the 25th inst. I am forbidden at present to state the place. It will be a gratification to you to know that he died as he had lived, as a brave soldier and a gentleman. He had just performed a most gallant deed in volunteering to blow up a bridge under a very heavy fire, which he did unscathed; shortly afterwards he was hit on the head by a shrapnel bullet, and expired instantaneously without any pain, "Will you please accept my most heartfelt sympathy in which all officers of this company join.
Personally, I feel I have lost a friend and a gallant comrade."
Corporal Marsden was well-known to many Hathersage friends when a boy. He was educated at Worksop College, and had served with the Royal Engineers seven years, part of the time at the Curragh in Ireland. He was an instructor in bridge building, and invented an improvement in the Wheldon trestle which the War Office accepted.
Following is the narrative of an eye-witness who saw the gallant Corporal's action and death : " If they (the Germans) had only got across that night, I am afraid there would have been very few of the Middlesex left. The only bridge that was left open to them was blown up by a sergeant'' of the Engineers, and the very next moment his own head was carried away by a German shell. But the brave fellow saved the position." The narrative is from a letter of a private in the Middlesex Regiment to his mother. Several Sheffield soldiers have also borne witness to E. Marsden's death. They saw the deed done.
Photo of Edwin Marsden
Hautrage Military Cemetery