Benjamin Michael Marsh
He was a poultry farmer in 1939.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Benjamin Michael Marsh was one of 11 children born to John Ernest (born Boughton,died 1928) and Lizzie Marsh (born Ruskington, Lincolnshire) who married in 1901. Benjamin’s siblings were George, Jessie, Cyril, Arthur, Ernest, Bernard, Male?, Sylvia, Cecil and Gordon. John Ernest was a gamekeeper on the Rufford Estate which is where they lived before moving to Wellow and settling in at Institute Cottages.
In 1939, Benjanin Marsh lived at Wellow with his widowed mother and Jessie, Bernard and Cecil Marsh
Biographical and Military history in this section is by courtesy of Wellow Heritage and Tourism Group, pamphlet A Tribute to our Wellow War Heroes (2021)
BROUAY WAR CEMETERY II B 8
Benjamin Marsh spent four years fighting during World War Two. He enlisted April 6th 1940 into the Royal Welch Fusiliers with which he became a 7th Battalion Lance Corporal.
After many battles in France, 7 RWF was taking part in advances being made 10 miles south of Caen. On 7th August, they were at St Honorine-du-Fay and managed to cross the River Orme on the following day.
During the afternoon of August 11th, 7RWF began an attack on Fresney-le-Vieux. Their CO had been told his troops were not required because British armoured cars already occupied the town but he decided to press on regardless. They encountered heavy machine gun and rifle fire from German troops still occupying the village.
Benjamin Marsh lost his life from sniper fire in orchards. The village was taken the following day with a further 20 RWF men killed at 28 wounded.
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