George William Marsh
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George was born in 1897 at 9 Lord Street Sutton in Ashfield the son of Linda (Linney ) Marsh. On 14th April 1900 Linney married Thomas Yates at the Registry Office in Mansfield and the family went to live on Club Street. George William was recorded on the 1901 Census as Thomas’ stepson. William as he preferred to be known, also had a brother Robert Henry and a half sister Mary Lizzie, and half brothers Thomas, John Alfred and Charles, from his mother’s marriage to Thomas Yates. They lived at 51 Club Street Sutton .
He enlisted in the 15th (Nottingham) Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) in February 1915. This was a Bantam Battalion which allowed men under the regulation minimum height of 5 feet 3 inches to join up. George William’s regimental number 23599 shows that he was one of the first to enlist. On the 16th July 1916 the battalion relieved the 6th Northamptonshire Regiment in trenches S.E. of Trones Wood immediately west of Maltz Horn Farm. The 16th Cheshires were on their left flank and the 7th Buffs on their right flank. The war diary states that:- 17th – Took over trenches from 7th Buffs and joined up with the French on our right 19th – Rather heavily bombarded, subjected to tear gas and gas shells 20th – W & Z Coys attacked enemy’s position in conjunction with French attack on our right at 5am. Unsuccesful, casualties heavy. 23rd Manchester Regiment assisted. William did not survive the attack. His official date of death is given as 17th July Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A
He served as William Marsh. His brother Robert Henry Marsh was killed in action on 7th July 1916.
