William Marsden
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William was the son of William and Ann Marsden (née Scott). His father William was born in Market Rasen. Lincolnshire. His mother Ann was born in Carlton in Lindrick, Nottinghamshire, in 1860, the daughter of Edward and Sarah Ann Scott (née Greatorex). In 1871 they were living at Marecroft, Worksop, with their three children, Henry, Ann and William. Ann had a daughter, Sarah Ann Scott (b. 1877, father's name not recorded), who in 1881 was living with her grandparents, Edward and Sarah at 51 Marecroft. Edward Scott died later that year and his wife Sarah probably in 1887. Their granddaughter Sarah Ann had a son, Frederick Scott, in 1894 (name of father not recorded). William Marsden and Ann Scott were married at Worksop St Mary (Priory) in July 1879 and according to the 1911 Census completed by Ann she had had eight children, three of whom had died by 1911. Seven 'Marsden' children have been identified from census and birth registrations, one of whom is known to have died before 1911: George b. 1880, William b. 1882, Frances b. 1885 d. 1887, Annie b. 1890, Edwin b.1888, Arabella b. 1892 and Frances Gertrude b. 1898. It is possible that Ann had included her daughter, Sarah Ann Scott, who may have died by 1911, as one of her eight children. In 1881 William a coal miner, and Ann, with their first child, George (under 1 year), were living at 63 Marecroft, Worksop. In 1901, William senior, a coal miner hewer, Ann and five of their children, William, Edwin, Annie, Arabella and Frances Gertrude, were living on Pelham Street, Worksop, with their eldest son, George, a labourer, who was described as the head of household. Also in the home was Ann's grandson, Frederick Scott (7). William jnr. married Isabella Bird at St Johns Church, Worksop, in 1908 and they had five children. two of whom died in infancy: William Cyril b. 1908 (J/A/S) d. 1908 (O/N/D), Queeny b. 1909 (O/N/D) d. 1911 (J/A/S), John William b. 1911, Lucy Lenorah b. 1913 and Gwendoline Victoria b. 1916. By 1911 William senior, a labourer (quarry), was living at 15 Pelham Street, Worksop, in the home of his son Edwin, a coal miner hewer, his wife Lilian and their two children. Frederick Scott (17), an underground roadman in the mines, was also living with the family. William senior's wife, Ann, was living at 4 Plants Yard, Bridge Street, Worksop, and described as married and head of household. In the home on the night of the census were her daughters, Arabella and Frances Gertrude, her son William, his wife Isabella and their daughter Queenie, together with another grandchild, George Marsden (9). George Marsden (George Robert b. 1902) may have been the son of Ann's eldest son George who had married Nellie Price in 1902 (J/F/M). Also in the household was a boarder, Walter Malkin, a general labourer. William and Isabella later moved to 24 Trent Street, Worksop, and William's nephew, Frederick Scott, was living with them before he enlisted in 1914. Frederick served with the Sherwood Foresters and was killed in 1915. (See 'Extra information') It is likely that William's widow Isabella remarried as there is a record of the marriage of an Isabel (sic) Marsden to George E Johnson in 1919 (reg. Worksop) and the record of the death of an Isabella Johnson in 1934 (reg. Doncaster). Her son, John William, was married in the Doncaster registration district in 1935 while both his sisters married in 1938, Lucy to Sidney Whitehurst and Gwendoline to Wm Snaith (both marriages registered Nottingham).
RMLI - 2nd Royal Marine Bn, Royal Naval Division. Formerly 6690 Private Notts & Derby Regiment. William previously served with the Militia (4th Bn. Notts and Derby Regiment) for seven years. He attested on his birthday, 3 September 1914, and transferred from the Sherwood Foresters to the RMLI on a short service engagement on 16 September 1914. He served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli) from 28 February 1915 to 14 September the same year when he was invalided sick to the UK, although a newspaper report of his death in 1917 recorded that he was treated in Malta before returning to serve at home. He was then in the draft for BEF France with the 2nd RM Bn. on 25 September 1916. William was awarded the Military Medal (lance corporal), gazetted 16 August 1917 (London Gazette p8422). He was killed in action on 16 September 1917, apparently a few days before he was due a period of home leave. William was buried in Naval Trench British Cemetery, Gavrelle, France (grave ref. I.14). He was awarded the Military Medal and qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Naval Trench British Cemetery (extract): 'Gavrelle was captured by the Royal Naval Division on 23 April 1917, lost on 28 March 1918, and reoccupied by the 51st (Highland) Division on the following 27 August. Naval Trench Cemetery is named from a second-line trench made by the 63rd Division in the summer of 1917, occupied as headquarters by the Queen's Westminsters in March 1918, and retaken by the 6th Black Watch on 26 August 1918. It was made by fighting units between April and November 1917.' (www.cwgc.org)
William's nephew, Frederick Scott, the son of his half-sister, Sarah Ann Scott, served in the 9th Bn Sherwood Foresters (12862 Private) and was killed in action in Gallipoli on 9 August 1915. He and his uncle had met while both were serving in the Dardanelles. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll:- Widow: Isabella, 24, Trent Street, Worksop, Notts. WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards: widow Isabella Marsden (b. 1889); children John William b. 1911, Lucy Lenorah b. 1913 and Gwendoline Victoria b. 1916. Lance-Corpl. W. Marsden Worksop Guardian 5 October 1917 'A few weeks ago,-July 20th,-We reproduced a photograph of Lance-Corpl. Wm. Marsden, Royal Marines, Lewis Gun Section, residing at 2? Trent Street, Worksop, on the occasion of him being awarded the Military Medal. This week comes the news of the gallant soldiers death “Killed in action,”- a brief but noble epitaph,- on September 16th. 'The official intimation is supplemented by a letter which Mrs. Marsden has received from a comrade of her husband’s, Pte. T. Kelly, of the same Battalion. Writing on Sept. 17th, he says:- “Dear Mrs. Marsden,- just a few lines of sympathy to tell you that we regret the loss of your dear beloved husband, Bill. I hope you will bear it the best way you can. I know it is a heavy burden for you to bear, but never mind; he died a hero’s death, doing his duty for England, home and beauty. He suffered no pain, and we took him back to the Divisional Cemetery, so he will have a good funeral. It is a thousand pities. All the boys are very sorry to lose such a good and gallant comrade, and they all sympathize with you in your bereavement. I gave his belongings to the Captain of His Company, so he will be sending them on to you when we get down the lines. I was one of his pals, and went with him from Derby to Portsmouth, and we have been good pals ever since the day we met. It is hard to part, is it not, but I know it is harder for you. I shall be home on leave before long, if I have the luck to get through, and I will come to see you and tell you how it happened.” Pte. Kelly adds that his home is at Mansfield and that he is married and has four little children. “All those poor women with a family are fighting a hard battle in the absence of their husbands. But God will reward you. Your husband has been a good soldier, and God will help you and your dear family, so don’t week and trouble. May God help you to bear this?” 'Lanc. Corpl. Marsden, who was 37 years of age, was a reservist when the war broke out, at which time he was employed at Manton Colliery. He had nine month’s service at the Dardanelles, and there met his nephew, Pte. F. Scott. Sherwood Foresters, who was killed in August, 1915. He himself was wounded by shrapnel in the right shoulder and side, and was invalided to Malta. After recovery he returned to England and was in Worksop in August last year, since when he has been in the thick of it in France. He leaves three children, aged 6 and a half, four years, and twelve months respectively. Poor fellow, in his last letter to his wife he was looking forward to being at home this week-end. Much sympathy is expressed with Mrs. Marsden and her family.' Research by Colin Dannatt
