MARSON, Richard Guy
| Service Number: | 1978 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 January 1915, Liverpool, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Essex, England, 6 March 1887 |
| Home Town: | Lewisham, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Essex England |
| Occupation: | Fettler |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 31 August 1918, aged 31 years |
| Cemetery: |
Heath Cemetery, Picardie IV G 5 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1978, 1st Infantry Battalion, Liverpool, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 1978, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 1978, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney | |
| 31 Aug 1918: | Involvement Private, 1978, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1978 awm_unit: 1st Australian Division Salvage Company awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-08-31 |
Help us honour Richard Guy Marson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of the late Richard and Sarah Ann Marson, 33 Barker Street, Lewisham, NSW
Husband of Mrs. C. E. Marson, of 16, Barker St., Lewisham, New South Wales.
FAR AWAY FROM ALL WHO LOVED HIM IN A HERO'S GRAVE HE LIES
Richard served in Egypt, Gallipoli - wouned at Lone Pine 11 August 1915 and invalided to 1st General Hospital Cairo and returned to Duty, Western Front - France wouned on second occasion September 1916 and returned to duty but was killed in action 31 August 1918.
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Richard Guy MARSON (Service Number 1978) described himself on his Attestation Papers, signed 14th January 1915 as a ‘Railway Fettler’ He was allotted to the 1st Division Salvage Company on 16th February 1917. Marson had been born about January 1887 at Forest Gate, London. He was married at the time of his enlistment to Charlotte Esther and she was named as his next of kin.
He was allotted to the 1st Australian Infantry Battalion. He embarked HMAT ‘Ceramic’ at Sydney on 25th June 1915. He joined the Battalion at Gallipoli on 5th August. He was wounded only a couple of days later with a gunshot to his chest and left arm. This required evacuation to No. 1 General Hospital and then Luna Park Hospital at Heliopolis, Egypt. He did not return to Gallipoli until 7th December and was there for only a few days until the general evacuation in the middle of that month.
Returned to Egypt, he ran foul of authority by neglecting to obey the order of a Superior Officer and was confined to barracks for seven days. He left Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on 21st March 1916, passing through Marseilles on 28th March.
In France on 9th August he incurred 14 days Field Punishment No. 2 for ‘Conduct to the prejudice etc. in that he assumed a threatening attitude to a civilian. On 22nd August he was wounded, but remained on duty. At the end of 1916 he had furlough in England. In February of 1917 he was attached to the Divisional Salvage Company, where he worked for the next year until he had leave in the UK in January 1918.
He was killed in action on 31st August 1918. He was about eight or ten kilometres behind the front line, working in the Salvage Company’s Yard. He and another man, Anderson, were blown to pieces by a bomb dropped from an enemy aeroplane.
Private H Palmer described Marson as ‘one of the drollest chaps imaginable and very popular with his mates.’
Marson was at first buried at Bayonvillers, Map Ref 1/40,000 Sheet 62,D Square W2 6.8.9., but in 1920 his remains were exhumed and re-interred at Heath Cemetery, 1½ miles North of Harbonnières, 7¼ miles East South east of Corbie.
Charlotte wrote to the Military authorities:
‘Just line to let you know that I received the Photographs of my husband’s grave. I was very please with it. I will rest contented now I know it is getting well look after. I thank you very much for kindness in sending it to me for I know my Dear Husband Die giving his life for Country & and loved ones.’ (all sic)
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
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