WILFRED GEORGE MARSHALL
Date of birth: 1881
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Place of birth: Gundagai, NSW
Link to Wagga: Hometown - lived with his wife (next of kin) in North Wagga
Date of enlistment: 31 May 1916
Age at enlistment: 34 years 10 months
Occupation: Labourer
Religion: Methodist
Next of kin: Wife, Mary Ann Marshall, North Wagga
Battalion or Regiment: 30th Battalion
Battlefields: France, Belgium
Outcome: Killed in action, October 23, 1917, Anzac Ridge (Ypres, Belgium)
Wilfred George Marshall was the son of John Abraham and Sarah J (née Passlow).
Wilfred and his two brothers enlisted for active service during World War I. A labourer by trade, he was born in Gundagai, but lived with his wife Mary Ann (née Stockton) at North Wagga. In 1910, Wilfred and Mary welcomed a son whom they named Francis.
Following training in Australia, Wilfred embarked from Sydney with the 8th Training Battalion, aboard the SS ‘Port Nicholson’ on November 8, 1916.
Two months after arriving in England, he proceeded to the battlefields of France. He transferred to the 30th Battalion in France on March 19, 1917.
In the opening months of 1917, when the German Army withdrew to the Hindenburg Line, the 30th Battalion had the honour of occupying Bapaume during the general advance that followed. The 30th missed much of the heavy fighting of 1917, being employed in flank protection and reserve roles at the second battle of Bullecourt and the battle of Polygon Wood.
On June 22, 1917, Wilfred fell ill, and the following day, was admitted by the 8th Australian Field Ambulance to the Divisional Rest Station. He was diagnosed as suffering from trench fever. Trench fever was first reported in the trenches of the Western Front in December, 1914. Chief symptoms of the illness were headaches, skin rashes, inflamed eyes and leg pain. The condition itself was not particularly serious, and patients recovered after some five or six days, although prolonged hospitalisation amounting to several weeks was common. In military terms, however, it proved one of the most significant causes of sickness and authorities were therefore keen to determine its cause. In 1918, it was discovered to be transmitted by lice bites, and was prevalent on the somewhat warmer Western and Italian fronts.
Wilfred rejoined his unit from hospital on July 6. On July 20, he was again hospitalised again suffering from trench fever.
On September 13, he once again rejoined his battalion from hospital.
Wilfred was killed in action at Anzac Ridge, near Ypres in Belgium on October 23.
According to an eyewitness, he was killed when a shell landed on his dugout at about 3am. The wounds were apparently mostly in the region of the abdomen, but he was killed instantly. He was buried close to the spot where he met his death, within 100 yards, with three other soldiers who were also killed.
On the second anniversary of his death, in 1919, Wilfred’s family posted a tribute in The Daily Advertiser newspaper:
As his brothers and mates are returning,
‘Midst volleys of clapping and cheers,
Our thoughts turn with sadness and yearning
To him who sleeps at Anzac Ridge.
He shall always be first in our memory.
Though his grave is over the foam,
Where he fell, mid the thunder of battle,
Fighting for us at home.
The war is over; the victory won,
To some these words sound nice.
But oh! How sad the hearts of those
Whose loved ones paid the price.