Leslie Marshall
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Leslie Marshall was born in 1898 at Sutton in Ashfield and was the only son of Samuel a tailor and Sarah Ann Marshall née Clarke of 63 Outram Street Sutton in Ashfield. His father Samuel was born in 1874 at Sutton and his mother Sarah Ann Clarke was born in 1869 at Sutton they were married in 1895 and their marriage was recorded in the Mansfield Registration district. In the 1911 census the family are living at Outram Street and are shown as Samuel 37 yrs a tailor, he is living with his wife Sarah Ann 42 yrs and their son Leslie 13 yrs a tailor.
Private Leslie Marshall, enlisted at Mansfield and initially served with the service number 65935 in the Sherwood Foresters Regiment he transferred to the 3rd Section, “C” Company, 56th Battalion Machine Gun Corps, he was killed in action on 28th March 1918. He is buried in Orchard Dump Cemetery, Arleux-en-Gohelle.
Article published 19th April 1918 in the Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Advertiser :- PRIVATE L. MARSHALL. “Mr. and Mrs. S. Marshall, Outram-street, Sutton, have received the sad news that their only son, Pte. Leslie Marshall, was killed in action on March 28th. Well-known in Sutton, Pte. L. Marshall was 20 years of age, and he had been in the army about 18 months, and in France about 12 months when he met with his death. He was a keen footballer and a very able exponent of the game. In 1914 he was in the team that won the Charity Cup and Senior Medals, and had two trials with Sheffield United before he was 17 years of age. Pte. Marshall was also a first-class runner, and at the Brigade sports at Arras in June he was first in the 100 yards (beating Atkinson in the final), and second in the 220 yards. “Mr. Marshall has received the following letter: – “It is with deepest regret that I now write to inform you of the death of your son, 86528, Pte. L. Marshall, killed in action on 28th March. The enemy had attacked at dawn. Notwithstanding the intense barrage that was placed on our lines, your son assisted in keeping the enemy engaged until struck by a shell. He was killed instantly. No words of mine can help you in your great sorrow — nothing ever can — but it may be a comfort to all his loved ones at home to know that he died fighting, doing his duty till the last. As his section officer, I not only lose one of my best and most valuable men, but also a friend. He was loved by all of us, and we will all miss his cheery smile and quiet confidence. Very few of the original section remain now. It's so hard to see the bravest and best go. Leslie died like a hero, fighting to the last, and I trust that when our turn comes we also will go as gloriously. Please write me if I can be of any more assistance to you. I shall be only too glad to aid you all I possibly can. Accept my very deepest and heartfelt sympathy in your sad bereavement. — James Booth, O/C 3rd Section, C Company.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
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