Name
Alfred Marshall
Circa 1833
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/02/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
94492
Royal Engineers
185th Tunnelling Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BECOURT MILITARY CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT
I. J. 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
Alfred was born around 1873 in Hitchin and his parents were George and Martha Marshall (née Wilshere) who married on 17 November 1866 in St Mary’s Church, Hitchin.
In 1881 the family were living at Hitchin Hill, Hitchin. Present were both parents: George (36) working as a brickmaker and Martha (37) as a strawplaiter. Their children were: Harriett (16), Maria (14), Emily (12), Augustus (9), Alfred (7) and John (2). All were recorded as born in Hitchin.
Augustus died in September 1882.
By 1891 the family had moved to 19 Areton Road, Finchley. Present were both parents: George now working as a platelayer. Of the above children only Alfred and John were present but thehad been joined by Arthur (11) and Charles (7).
Alfred married Amelia Geeves (b 8/11/1877), on 16 August 1896 in Holy Trinity Church, Finchley: Church Lane, Barnet and by 1901 Alfred (26) and Amelia (23) were living at 10 Bedford Road, Finchley with their daughter Lily (2). Alfred working as a bricklayers labourer.
In 1911 the family were living at 1 Rose Cottages Chappel Street, East Finchley, St London, Middlesex – an address used is many of the subsequent records. Alfred was now a general labourer. The census recorded they had been married for 19 years with 3 children, one of whom had died. Lily was present and the other child was May (6). They had a lodger, William Ward Norton (70).
The Soldiers Died In The Great War database records that he was born in Hitchin and was living in East Finchley when he enlisted in London.
Wartime Service
Alfred enlisted and joined the 185th Tunnelling Company
The medical records for Queen Alexandra Military Hospital in Millbank, London, SW record that he was admitted on 2 September 1915 with s contusion of his right leg. He was recorded as 41 and had served for 4 months when he was admitted. He was treated and released 10-days later, on the 29th.
One source explains that Alfred died of wounds on 4th February 1916, when 18 British soldiers were killed when the Germans detonated a camouflet near the British three level mine system. However his pension records suggest that he died of gas poisoning, Sixteen men of the 185th Tunnelling Coy. died on that date and are buried in the same cemetery in a shared grave.
Additional Information
After his death £25 0s 4d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow, Amelia, on 23 May 1915. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her 19 August 1919.
His pension cards record Amelia as his widow and as his next of kin/dependant, living at 1 Rose Cottage, Chapel Street, East Finchley. It also records their child as Martha May (b 9/7/1904). She was awarded a pension of 17s 6d a week from 21 August 1916.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
