William Marshall

Army, Old Contemptible, Royal Berkshire Regiment

William Marshall  M.M.
Lance Corporal
2nd Batt. Royal Berkshire Regt.
Old Contemptible

 Division 17

Marshall W photo CIMG2190

 

Lance Corporal William Marshall  was considered by his friends to lead a charmed life and had many narrow escapes whilst doing service at the front.  At the battle of Fromelles he was carrying two boxes of bullets when one of them was hit by a bullet.  Writing to his mother in July 1915 he simply talks about the weather.  “We are having very unsettled weather again, and we are in the trenches.  We got wet through going on, and there was another wet night last knight.  It makes everything a mess”.

 At the outbreak of war he was serving in India but went to France towards the end of 1914.  This earned him the right to be called an “Old Contemptible”.

Marshall W + brothers photo

 

He was one of four sons, all of whom served with the forces, of Mr. Joseph and Mrs Mary Marshall of 32. Pitcroft Avenue, Reading. His father and older brother Joseph worked in the biscuit factory and William worked as a butcher before join the regular army. His brother Sidney, aged 19 years, was a machine gunner who was killed in action on Easter Monday  24/4/1916. 

William Marshall was awarded the Military Medal in 1916 for rescuing a machine gun.  He served at the front for most of his time in France although eventually due to a problem  with his foot he was given work behind the lines in Havre. 

In 1917 he married Christobel and they had six daughters and one son. In WWII  son Ted served in the Army and William worked as an ARP warden. His daughter Marion said that her dad never spoke about his war service. When William  died in 1963 aged 72 years he was given a military style funeral by the Old Contemptibles Association. He is buried with his wife and two daughters in the Reading Cemetery.  His grave is unmarked except for the marker of the  “Old Contemptibles”.

Ernest Edward Woods

Army, Arras, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Reading University College

Ernest Edward Woods
Staff Sergeant SS/5255
attached to 37th Division H.Q. Army Service Corps.

 Division 80

Woods EE photo Woods EE grave

Ernest Edward Woods was the son of Thomas and Susannah Woods, of  185, Oxford Road at the time of their son’s death; and 23, Coley Hill, Reading at the time of  CWGC registration.  His name is commemorated on the headstone of  grave number 16890.  He died on 22nd May 1916 and is buried in Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension II.C.18.

 The Standard 29th July 1916 gives details of his career and the details of the illness which killed him.

“ Sergt. Woods enlisted directly the war broke out, prior to which time he was a journalist on the ‘West London Free Press,’ which makes the following comment on his death:- “Woods was a capable and strenuous journalist.  His qualities of sprightly energy, alertness and loyalty won him the sincere regard of our staff.  His death appears all the more tragic because it was so unexpected.  Shortly before he was taken ill he wrote to his mother saying he was quite well and ever so happy.  Further information showed, however, that the preliminary cause of death was a tumour on the brain.  He was an extremely bright and joyous fellow, and had he lived would have had an honourable career in the Army.  Already he had won the confidence of the officers’ and men, and at headquarters it was known that he was marked out for rapid promotion.  For his mother and other relatives the sympathy of all who knew Staff Sergt. Woods goes out.”

          The C.O. wrote: “Woods had been in my confidential clerk for over a year – ever since the formation of the division.  It may be of some satisfaction to you to know that your son did his duty both willingly and well.  He died practically in the front line.”

 Doullens was the H.Q. of the French General Foch in the early part of the war.  From Summer 1915 to March 1916, the town was the junction between the French 10th Army and the British Third Army on the Somme.  The Citadelle, overlooking the town from the south, was a French military hospital, and the railhead was used by both Armies.  In March 1916, the Arras front became British, and the town became home to various Casualty Clearing Stations.  Medical units buried their dead firstly in the French Extension of the Communal Cemetery and later Extension No.2 when casualties form both the Arras and Somme fronts increased.

Albert Wing

Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Army, Royal Berkshire Regiment, Somme

Albert Wing
Private 2580
“D” Company
1st/4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

 

Wiing AG photo

Albert Wing was the only son of  William George and Mary Francis Wing, 92, Donnington Gardens. Reading.  He was 21 and joined up just after the outbreak of war.

 In a letter, later published in the paper in April or May 1915,  Albert gives some information about a “close shave”.  A place which had been used by his battalion the previous morning had been shelled and burnt down within half and hour of their leaving,  He comments:

  “I don’t think any of us met with any danger – only from shells when in the trenches, and when we are getting in and out.  We went with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, and I think one or two casualties occurred to that lot.  I am still keeping fit and well.”

 We do not know the exact circumstances in which Albert Wing was injured but it is probable that it happened on 23rd July when “D” company were shelled and fired on after a successful attack on Pozieres in the morning.  He was in the machine gun section and he received gun shot wounds in his right leg and buttock.  Albert was evacuated to hospital in Rouen where he later died of his injuries.  A chaplain wrote to his parents telling them that he had been brave and cheerful when admitted to hospital but a relapse had set in, and he died unconscious and peacefully.  The ground of the Somme was very fertile, and threads from clothing forced into wounds could result in blood poisoning and gangrene. Minor injuries, which had they been treated aseptically and quickly,  often proved fatal.

 Albert Wing was buried in the St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen, location A. 13. 45.  He died 29th July 1916 – aged 21. 

 

Prior to the war he first worked for the Reading Corporation Tramways Department and later for Sutton and Sons.  He was a good Cricketer, and was Captain of the Sutton’s second team and had won the Batting prize two years in succession.  Albert Wing was also a member of St. John’s Church.