Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

^{James David MARSHALL}

^{Military Medal / Mentioned in Despatches / Silver Medal (Serbia)}

Military Medal 

‘At BIR-EL-ABD on 9th August, 1916. For conspicuous bravery in attending to wounded under extremely heavy shell and rifle fire. Stretcher bearer, specially recommended’.

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette                  19 April 1917 on page 924 at position 126

Serbian Silver Obilich Medal for Bravery.

Bestowed with Silver Medal by the H.M King of Serbia with approval by H.M King in recognition of his distinguished service during the campaign. (EEF)

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 25 July 1917 on page 1543 at position 55

Mentioned in Dispatches

by General W Murray on October 13, 1916.

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 19 April 1917 on page 926 at position 58

The Bendigonian published the following tragic report September 7, 1916: - TROOPER J .D. MARSHALL

The Rev. J. Polkinghorne of Eaglehawk, was entrusted Thursday with the sad duty of conveying the news to Mrs. F. M. Marshall of Farnsworth-street, Eaglehawk, that her husband Trooper James David Marshall had died from wounds on the 9th August. Trooper Marshall, who was 25 years of age was the eldest son of the late Mr. James Marshall of Heathcote, of which town the deceased soldier was a native. Prior to volunteering his services with the Australian Imperial Forces he was employed at the Sea gold mine in Bendigo, as a miner and was a member of the Bendigo branch of the F. M. F. A. He enlisted for active service on the 17th June, 1915, and left Australia with the Light Horse on the 27th September, proceeding direct for Egypt. He was still in Egypt on the 13th July last, when he wrote to his wife stating that he was tired of that locality, and was hoping to get away, although there did not seem to be any chance. About two years ago Trooper Marshall married a daughter of Mr. T. Williams, of Farnsworth-street, Eaglehawk, and he leaves a widow and one child to mourn the loss of a loving and devoted husband and father.[1]

SERVICE DETAILS: 

Regtl No: 2000

Place of birth: Heathcote Victoria

Religion: Methodist

Occupation: Miner

Address: Farnsworth Street, Eaglehawk, Bendigo, Victoria

Marital status: Married

Age at enlistment: 24

Next of kin Wife, Mrs Florence Marshall, Farnsworth Street, Eaglehawk, Bendigo

Parents: James & Helen May Marshall

Enlistment date 21 June 1915

Rank on enlistment Private

Unit name 8th Light Horse Regiment, 9th Reinforcement

AWM Embarkation Roll number 10/13/2

Embarkation details Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 27 September 1915

Rank from Nominal Roll Private

Unit from 8th Light Horse Regiment

Died of wounds 9 August 1916 at Hod Hassanein, Sinai Pennisula.

Place of burial: Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt

At BIR-EL-ABD

Trooper James Marshall died from a bullet wound to the chest received either at the battle of Romani in the Sinai Desert or following the battle as the Australian Light Horse pursued the Turkish forces. 

Battle of Romani –

Soon after midnight on August 4, 1916, the dim shadows of Turkish soldiers darted across the Sinai Desert towards the Romani tableland. Ahead lay the isolated outposts of Major-General Harry Chauvel’s Anzac Mounted Division, which barred the way to their objective, the Suez Canal.  Towards dawn the Turkish army sighted the Australians. Charging forward, they sliced through the thin defences, annihilating the posts before any effective resistance could be organised. And thus began the bloody battle of Romani, a conflict which, after two days of murderous fighting, saw the Anzacs shatter forever the Turkish dreams of controlling the most vital man-made waterway on earth.[2]

[1] Bendigonian September 7, 1916  Page 24
[2] Australian Light Horse Association Ltd website - Battle of Romani  http://www.lighthorse.org.au/