MARSH, Cyril Hamilton
| Service Number: | 74 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 August 1914, Sydney |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Clyde, New South Wales, Australia, 25 August 1895 |
| Home Town: | Clyde, Parramatta, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tanner |
| Died: | Natural causes, Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia, 8 July 1970, aged 74 years |
| Cemetery: |
Rookwood Cemeteries & Crematorium, New South Wales Zone F Methodist New Section 03B Grave 1619 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 74, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Sydney | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 74, 2nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 74, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suffolk, Sydney | |
| 8 Aug 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 74, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Medically unfit |
Great Uncle Cyril Marsh, Gallipoli Veteran.
Cyril was my mother's uncle, (Marie Shannon nee Marsh) he was one of 5 brothers and 2 sisters, another brother, Victor Marsh, also served in the 2nd Battalion AIF. The family grew up in Granville NSW where their father and uncle had established a tannery, Marsh Bros Tannery Clyde. My mother was the daughter of Cyril's youngest brother, John Marsh.
Cyril Marsh, regimental number 74, joined the AIF in August 1914, at the beginig of the conflict, in Sydney NSW and was posted into the 2nd Battalion. Shortly after they sailed off with that historic armada bound for the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Cyril and 2nd Battalion landed at Anzac Cove on the morning of the 25th of April 1915. He remained at Gallipoli until he was wounded during the Battle of Lone Pine in August 1915. He received gun shot wounds to the back and legs. He was brought down to the beach and evacuated to hospital in Valletta , Malta for treatment.
On his recovery in January 1916 he left Malta to rejoined his Battalion which had by then left Gallipoli and was fighting in France. It was there during the Poziers offensive that Cyril was severely wounded by an artillery blast, he was buried alive but his fellow soldiers saw his boots and dug him out. He was taken to a Regimenal Aid Post, stabilised and finally shipped off to a military hospital in England.
His records show he was suffering from Shell Shock and spinal injuries which impacted on the control of his left leg. He was then transported back to Australia for further treatment. Cyril was discharged in 1918 after a long recouperation. His leg slowly gained back its strength and he could walk normally once more.
Cyril rejoined his fathers tannery business after the war. He got married and had 2 children, Audrey and Cyril, known as little Cyril. In 1972 Cyril Hamilton Marsh died at his home in Ashfield NSW after the discovery of cancer.
The above information was gleened through both his online Service records and family recolections. I have one studio profile photo of Cyril in a peaked army cap wearing a greatcoat which I will post when I locate it. It would be intesting, too, for me to know where the photo of him in the slouch hat was sourced and who posted it?
John Shannon
Submitted 16 May 2020 by John Shannon
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