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Ernest Marsh
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 16/06/1898 |
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Place of birth: Altofts, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Altofts, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: High School Student |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Rifleman |
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Service number: 270092 |
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Enlistment place: Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own), 1/8th Bn. (Leeds Rifles) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 09/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Wallemolen, Passendale, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 19 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXX Row: A Grave: 7 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Ernest Marsh, a former Scholar, was born on the 18th of June 1898 in Altofts, West Yorkshire in England, The United Kingdom. He was the son of Edward and Mary Elizabeth Marsh and had 6 siblings.
Ernest enlisted in Wakefield, Yorkshire in England, The United Kingdom. Later on he would serve as a Rifleman in the 1/8th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own), part of 146th Brigade, of the 49th (West Riding) Division.
The 1/8th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own), part of 146th Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division, was engaged in operations east of Ypres during the Third Battle of Ypres in October 1917. In the days before the assault of 9 October, the battalion moved from Tatinghem to Watou on 3 October, then to camp near Vlamertinghe on the 6th. Training, attack practices, and final preparations occupied the intervening days. On 7–8 October, the battalion marched in heavy rain to its assembly positions near St. Jean, a difficult 12-hour approach march in darkness along trench grids.
On 9 October, the battalion was scheduled to take part in the division’s attack at Passchendaele. Its plan was to advance in two stages: B and C Companies were tasked with seizing the first objective, while A and D Companies were to push on to the second. However, the battalion’s rear elements only reached their assembly positions minutes before zero hour. Despite this, the advance began under the covering barrage. Almost immediately, progress was slowed by deep mud, flooded ground, and the swollen Ravebeek, while hostile fire from rifles and machine guns inflicted heavy casualties. Lieutenant Colonel R. A. Hudson DSO, the commanding officer, was killed early in the action, leaving the adjutant in temporary command with only two other officers available. Out of 23 officers who began the attack, the majority were killed or wounded. The position of companies became increasingly confused in the poor conditions, and eventually the battalion consolidated after an advance of about 300 yards. They dug in around Kronprinz Farm, which was used as Battalion Headquarters, and held the ground under pressure for the remainder of the day.
On 10 October, reinforced by a company of the 1/6th West Yorkshires, the battalion maintained its position near Yetta House. That night it was relieved and withdrew by march route to Wieltje, later moving to Vlamertinghe on the same day. On 11 October, it proceeded to Winnezeele, ending its role in this phase of operations.
Rifleman Marsh, aged 19, was killed in action on the 9th of October 1917. His body was initially buried near Wallemolen, Passchendaele at 28.D.4.a.40.30. The remains were later exhumed and interred at The Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXX, Row A, Grave 7.
Ernest enlisted in Wakefield, Yorkshire in England, The United Kingdom. Later on he would serve as a Rifleman in the 1/8th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own), part of 146th Brigade, of the 49th (West Riding) Division.
The 1/8th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own), part of 146th Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division, was engaged in operations east of Ypres during the Third Battle of Ypres in October 1917. In the days before the assault of 9 October, the battalion moved from Tatinghem to Watou on 3 October, then to camp near Vlamertinghe on the 6th. Training, attack practices, and final preparations occupied the intervening days. On 7–8 October, the battalion marched in heavy rain to its assembly positions near St. Jean, a difficult 12-hour approach march in darkness along trench grids.
On 9 October, the battalion was scheduled to take part in the division’s attack at Passchendaele. Its plan was to advance in two stages: B and C Companies were tasked with seizing the first objective, while A and D Companies were to push on to the second. However, the battalion’s rear elements only reached their assembly positions minutes before zero hour. Despite this, the advance began under the covering barrage. Almost immediately, progress was slowed by deep mud, flooded ground, and the swollen Ravebeek, while hostile fire from rifles and machine guns inflicted heavy casualties. Lieutenant Colonel R. A. Hudson DSO, the commanding officer, was killed early in the action, leaving the adjutant in temporary command with only two other officers available. Out of 23 officers who began the attack, the majority were killed or wounded. The position of companies became increasingly confused in the poor conditions, and eventually the battalion consolidated after an advance of about 300 yards. They dug in around Kronprinz Farm, which was used as Battalion Headquarters, and held the ground under pressure for the remainder of the day.
On 10 October, reinforced by a company of the 1/6th West Yorkshires, the battalion maintained its position near Yetta House. That night it was relieved and withdrew by march route to Wieltje, later moving to Vlamertinghe on the same day. On 11 October, it proceeded to Winnezeele, ending its role in this phase of operations.
Rifleman Marsh, aged 19, was killed in action on the 9th of October 1917. His body was initially buried near Wallemolen, Passchendaele at 28.D.4.a.40.30. The remains were later exhumed and interred at The Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXX, Row A, Grave 7.
Sources 6
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1/8 Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment. (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2795/2). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303 Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Ernest Marsh, ancestry.com https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/165842001/person/412252660213/facts Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), p 118 - 127 Sources used |
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Soldiers' Effects Records (National Army Museum, Chelsea (NAM) 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333) https://www.nam.ac.uk/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/463885 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=a52dbd1c-e2be-43ec-99a2-a5120f55ccd0 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/2925817 |