Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK

Died on this date -5th October.....Private John Marshall was born at Maltby, Braithwell, Yorkshire, England in 1883 to mother Annie Wainman. His mother married John Marshall in 1884 & John changed his surname from Wainman to Marshall.

John Marshall enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Broadmeadows, Victoria on 19th July, 1915 as a 33 year old, single, Miner. He embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Wandilla (A62) on 9th November, 1915 with the 8th Infantry Brigade, 31st Infantry Battalion “A” Company & disembarked at Suez on 7th December, 1915.

Private John Marshall was transferred to 5th Pioneer Battalion on 3rd March, 1916 at Tel-el-Kebir.

Private Marshall had been written up for being absent & refusing an order in January, 1916; absent for 24 hours on 1st April, 1916 & using abusive language & resisting arrest on 5th May, 1916.

Private Marshall had been sent sick to Hospital in April, 1916 with Influenza & hospitalised again in May, 1916 with VD.

Private Marshall joined 5th Pioneer Battalion at the War Front on 25th August, 1916. He was AWL for just over 24 hours on 26th August, 1916 & written up on 13th September, 1916 for disobedience of orders.

Private Marshall was sent to Hospital on 17th September, 1916 & embarked for England on 19th September, 1916 on Hospital Ship Jan Breydel suffering from Piles. He was admitted to 2nd Northern General Hospital, Leeds, England on 20th September, 1916.

Private John Marshall died on 5th October, 1916 at 2nd Northern General Hospital, Leeds, England while under anaesthesia whilst undergoing an operation for haemorrhoids.

Private Marshall was buried in Retford Road Cemetery, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/worksop.html

John Wainman was born at Maltby, Braithwell, Yorkshire, England in1883 the first born of 8 children  to mother Annie Wainman. Annie married John Marshall in 1884 in the district of Rotherham, Yorkshire (West Riding).

As an agricultural labourer, John Marshall Snr. and his family moved around the area for work, living in Maltby, Braithwell, Netherthorpe, Turnerwood and finally settling in Worksop around 1898. It was unfortunate that John, the family head, died in Worksop aged 42 in 1899. The family were residing at 1 St Cuthbert Street, Worksop. In 1907, Annie, now head of the family, married John Maltby at Worksop and the following year, her son. John Marshall emigrated to Australia. When the world war came, he volunteered from Valley Post, Queensland, Australia and enlisted at Broadmeadows, Victoria on 19th July, 1915 with the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) his service number was 1065.

[In a letter to the Imperial Forces Paymaster on 15th November, 1916, John Marshall’s  mother wrote “.........giving all particulars about my son 1065 Pte John Marshall 5th Pioneer Battalion who died in Hospital in England Oct 5th 1916. I his mother Annie Maltby nee Marshall nee Wainman. This man was my illegitimate child his real name being Wainman, my maiden name. My first husband Marshall whose name my son took, I was widowed and married a second time. I am enclosing my Boy’s Birth Certificate also my first & second Marriage Certificates. Hoping this will be all that is necessary to prove that I am the proper person to receive all due to him.......”]John Marshall (surname changed to Marshall)attended Braithwell Church of England School, Yorkshire, England. The 1891 England Census recorded John Marshall (junior) as an 8 year old, living with his family in a 3 roomed dwelling at Netherthorpe, Yorkshire (West Riding). His parents were listed as John Marshall (Agricultural Labourer, aged 36, born Braithwell, Yorks) & Annie Marshall (aged 33, born Maltby, Yorks). John was the eldest of five children listed on this Census –John then William Marshall (aged 6, born Braithwell, Yorks), Annie Marshall (aged 4, born Braithwell, Yorks), Frederick Marshall (aged 2, born Braithwell, Yorks) & Thomas Henry Marshall (aged 1, born Netherthorpe, Yorks).A death was registered in 1899 in the district of Worksop, Nottinghamshire for John Marshall, aged 42.The 1901 England Census recorded John Marshall as a 17 year old Trammer at a Colliery (below ground), living with his widowed mother & siblings at 1 St.Cuthbert Street, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England. His widowed mother was listed as Annie Marshall (aged 39). John was one of eight children listed on this Census –John then William Marshall (Driver at a Colliery -below ground), aged 15), Annie Marshall (aged 14), Fred Marshall (aged 12), Harry Marshall (aged 11), Frank Marshall (aged 9, born Netherthorpe, Yorks), Sydney Marshall (aged 8, born Turnwood, Yorks) & Mabel Marshall (aged 2, born Worksop, Notts). Also listed with the family were 2 Boarders –Harry Clarke (aged 45, employed at a Colliery -below ground) & Alfred Gray (Widower, aged 27, Joiner).Annie Marshall, mother of John Marshall married John Maltby in March quarter, 1907 in the district of Worksop, Nottinghamshire).According to information provided by Sydney Marshall, brother of John Marshall –John came to Australia when he was 26 years of age. He had served as a Stoker in Royal Navy for 7 years and had purchased his discharge. John Marshall was a 33 year old, single, Miner from 13 Priorwell Road, Worksop, Notts., England.

 When he enlisted at Broadmeadows, Victoria on19th July, 1915 with the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) his service number was 1065.

 His next of kin was listed as his mother –Mrs Anne Maltby, Worksop, Notts, England.

John was posted to “A” Company, 31st Battalion on 19th July, 1915 for recruit training. John embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Wandilla (A62)on 9th November, 1915 with the 8th Infantry Brigade, 31st Infantry Battalion “A” Company and disembarked at Suez on 7th December, 1915.

 
 
[Two ships sailed from Melbourne carrying men from the 31st Battalion Headquarters and Companies A, B, C, and D: HMAT A62,'Wandilla', on 9 November 1915, and HMAT A41, 'Bakara', on 5 November 1915.]
 

John was transferred to 5th Pioneer Battalion on 3rd March, 1916at Tel-el-Kebir.

Members of the Pioneer Battalions were trained as infantrymen and were also tasked with some engineer functions, with a large number of personnel possessing trade qualifications from civilian life. As such, they were designated as pioneer units. The 5th Pioneer Battalion was formed from volunteers from the 5th Division who possessed relevant trade qualifications, or who were deemed to be suitable for manual labouring tasks. Many were skilled and experienced in mining and other artisanal trades. John was sent sick to Hospital at Ferry Post on 2nd April, 1916. He was admitted to No. 1 Australian Stationary Hospital at Ismailia on 2nd April, 1916 –cause not yet determined. He was discharged to duty on 11th April, 1916 having recovered from Influenza. He rejoined his Battalion at Ferry Post on 11th April, 1916.  John was again sick in May, 1916. He was admitted to 15th Field Ambulance then transferred to No.2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 16th May, 1916. He was transferred to No. 1 Australian Stationary Hospital at Ismailia on 16th May, 1916 with V.D. He was transferred again to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Abbassia on 16th May, 1916 & admitted with V.D. He was discharged to his Unit on 25th May, 1916.He embarked for overseas on H.T. Tunisian from Alexandria on 10th July, 1916 and disembarked at Marseilles, France on 18th July, 1916 and was marched in to 5th A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot), Etaples, France from Egypt on 20th July, 1916. He proceeded from 5th Australian Divisional Base Depot at Etaples for Active Service on 24th August, 1916 and was taken on strength of 5th Pioneer Battalion on 25th August, 1916 in the field.

John was sent sick to hospital on 17th September, 1916. He was admitted to 14th Field Ambulance with Haemorrhoids then transferred to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station the same day. He was transferred by Ambulance Train and admitted to 13th General Hospital at Boulogne, France on 18th September, 1916. He embarked for England on 19th September, 1916 on Hospital Ship Jan Breydel suffering from Piles. [Haemorrhoids ].

He was admitted to 2nd Northern General Hospital, Leeds, England on 20th September, 1916. John’s death, aged 33,was registered in the December quarter of 1916 in the district of Leeds, Yorkshire (West Riding), England. His body

 was sent to Mrs Marshall, 13 Priorwell Rd, Worksop, Nottinghamshire for interment on 9th October, 1916 in Retford Road Cemetery, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England–Plot number17. 50.and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone. Retford was his mother’s town of residence. The Red Cross Wounded & Missing file for Private John Marshall contains a letter from Major George W. Watson, R.A.M.C. Registrar, 2nd Northern General Hospital, Leeds which reads: ”With reference to the attached letter I beg to inform you that 1065 Pte Marshall, 5th Pioneers, died under Anaesthesia whilst undergoing an operation for Haemorrhoids. An Inquest and Post Mortem were held, and it was found that the cause of death was:-(1) Haemorrhoids (2) Death under Anaesthesia (3) Enlarged Thymus Gland.

 [Much of the foregoing biography is by Cathy Sedgwick 2018 ]

John is remembered on the:-

Worksop  Cenotaph (Memorial Avenue)
Worksop  Manton Colliery
This memorial was originally sited at Manton Colliery Worksop. It was transferred to the Priory Church of St Mary and St Cuthbert after the pit closed in 1995 and installed on the south wall of the war memorial chapel.
St Mary and St Cuthbert Priory Church, Worksop - War Memorial Chapel (Lady Chapel): oak panels commemorating the names of the Fallen.
Priory church of St Mary and St Cuthbert - War Memorial Chapel (Lady Chapel): stone tablets giving the history of the chapel and its restoration and dedication as a war memorial.
 

Pte. John Marshall Worksop Guardian 13 October 1916

There is something very pathetic in the circumstances attending the death of Pte. John Marshall, of the 5th Australians, eldest son of Mrs. Maltby, 13, Priorswell Road, which occurred during an operation at the 2nd Northern General Hospital, Leeds, yesterday week. The deceased soldier was 33 years of age, and six years ago he immigrated to Australia. During his sojourn there, he wrote several cheery letters to the “Worksop Guardian”., and it was no surprise to his many friends at home to learn that when the Australian Government called for volunteers to fight for the old Country, and in the case of all that is dear and sacred, “Happy Jack”, as Marshall was known by reason of his sunny disposition, sacrificed his rising prospects and enlisted in the Corps which made it’s name famous. It thus came about that Pte. Marshall took part in the desperate fighting at Gallipoli, where the valour of the Colonial troops acquired imperishable renown. He was wounded, but recovered in time to re-join his regiment when it was drafted to France. Here again the Anzacs distinguished themselves by their bravery and enterprise, taking part in the great offensive, Pte. Marshall and a number of comrades were severely shelled by the Germans. Marshall was buried under the debris, and when extricated it was found that he had sustained internal injuries. He was invalided to England, and sent to the hospital in Leeds. An operation was decided upon, and before this took place, Pte. Marshall had the facility of spending a few days home renewing old acquaintances and seeing old friends. Although manifestly suffering, he was bright and sunny as ever, and the news that he had died under the operation came as a great shock to his mother, stepfather and other members of his family. The Chaplain of the Hospital, Rev. Edward C. Pigot, writes:- “Dear Madam,-Will you please accept my sympathy in the loss you have sustained in the death of your son. The blow for you is very great, but if there had not been brave lads like your son to fight for us, we should have not kept the Germans back from our homes. May God comfort you and his father is the prayer of yours faithfully, Edward. C. Pigot (Chaplain).” Mrs Maltby also received a letter of warm sympathy from nurse Pearson whose patient Marshal was, “It has been a great shock to all the nursing staff in the ‘F’ ward,” she says, “to hear that your son had passed away during the operation, and I felt it bitterly. I liked him so very much. He was a fine man, one of the right sort, and I cannot believe he will be with us no more when I remember how I was joking and teasing him this morning. It may be a little comfort for you to know that every care was taken and every remedy tried to save him, but it is very poor consolation to a mother who has lost her son. The ways of God are indeed strange, and we who nurse daily here, often wonder. God bless him. He is at peace now and may God help you to bear this terrible bereavement.” The body was conveyed by the Military Authorities to Worksop and internment took place from his old home on Monday afternoon. The coffin, upon the plate of which was engraved the lines: ‘Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy Cross I cling.’ ( the column continues with details of mourners and floral tributes at the funeral)

Worksop Guardian, Nottinghamshire, England –13 October, 1916)

AUSTRALIAN CASUALTIES 415 in 236th LIST
Died of Illness Pte J. Marshall, England(The Bendigo Independent, Victoria, Australia) –19 October, 1916)