"One kiss for you" - a Soldiers' last letter

[Sepoy]

Sorting through paperwork over Christmas, I rediscovered some old folded newspaper cuttings in an envelope, which I purchased with other related items some years ago, but never investigated. On opening the cuttings, the attached letter fell out.

This undated letter was written in the first weeks of the Great War, by 64153 Gunner Edward Thomas Marsh, Royal Horse Artillery, to his sister. It was obviously written in a hurry whilst Ted was at Aldershot. I just found the way he closed the letter so sad....

"(x) One kiss for you and I will give it in reality when I return".

Ted crossed to France with L Battery RHA on 15th August, 1914 and would have served with L Battery at Mons and during the Retreat from Mons.

In his book "The Affair at Nery 1st September, 1914" Patrick Takle gives the following quote from 56832 Acting Bombardier Frank Perrett, D Gun, L Battery, RHA.

"When the first salvo fell, Gunner Marsh, my Number 2 and I were just finishing shaving in rear of our detachment horses, which were tied to the
gun wheel.
A shell dropped right amongst them and the explosion flattened us. Marsh was struggling, but I told him to lie still as I could see he was badly hit: a piece of shell had gone right through his back and disembowelled him".

Gunner Marsh died of his wounds on 3rd September, 1914 at the Chateau Le Baron Field Hospital. He was aged 21.

[Roger H]

What a great piece of history, but so sad. Thank you for posting.

Roger

[RaySearching]

Interesting letter, Ted promised to come back, Sadly he could not keep his promise

Edward was a pre war regular soldier

He can be found on the 1911 census aged 18 at the Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich Common, Woolwich

Born Forest Hill London

He also has a small entry in De Ruvignys, No parentage given

regards Ray

[Sepoy]

Not the best of photographs but here is Gunner Marsh.

[seaJane]

Sepoy, any idea where Edward Marsh originally came from? I ask because my mother's father's name was Marsh and there is a bit of a resemblance. May be wishful thinking of course!

sJ

[Anneca]

What a sad letter considering Gunner Marsh was never able to give his sister that promised kiss. The photograph of the young man somehow brings his letter alive today. Thank you for posting Sepoy.

Anne

[Sepoy]

Sepoy, any idea where Edward Marsh originally came from? I ask because my mother's father's name was Marsh and there is a bit of a resemblance. May be wishful thinking of course!

sJ

As Ray stated in post 3 Ted was born in Forest Hill and enlisted in New Cross. In my notes I have listed his parents as being Richard and Maria Marsh, but I have not confirmed this since discovering that Ted had a sister called Lil.

Sepoy

[RaySearching]

Sepoy, any idea where Edward Marsh originally came from? I ask because my mother's father's name was Marsh and there is a bit of a resemblance. May be wishful thinking of course!

sJ

With the additional info regarding Edwards parents given by the o p Sepoy,

A matching family can be found on the 1901 census residing at 175 Stanstead Road Forest Hill London

details from the 1901 census

Name: Edward Marsh

Age: 7

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1894

Relation to Head: Son

Gender: Male

Father: Richard Marsh ( painter and decorator)

Mother: Maria Marsh

Birth Place: Forest Hill, Kent, England

Civil Parish: Lewisham

County/Island: London

Country: England

Household Members:

Name Age

Richard Marsh 43

Maria Marsh 43

Florence Marsh 20

Edith Marsh 18

Richard Marsh 15

Frank Marsh 13

Ernest Marsh 10

Edward Marsh 7

Albert Marsh 4

William Marsh 2

Louisa F White 46

regards Ray

[RaySearching]

The family can be found on the 1911 census still residing at 175 Stanstead Road Forest Hill

Edward absent from the family home, Edward at (see post 3)

regards Ray

Edit

Going back even further to 1881 the family can be found at Brickell Terrace Stanstead Road

The census shows that Edward had a older sister called Lillian, who was born in 1879

[Sepoy]

With the additional info regarding Edwards parents given by the o p Sepoy,

A matching family can be found on the 1901 census residing at 175 Stanstead Road Forest Hill London

Ray, many thanks for confirming the Gunner Marsh's family details, it helps to complete a picture of his short life. I will now patiently wait for the promised publication of the Royal Artillery records on Findmypast, in the hope that they include WW1 material, to see if any further details can be found.

Cheers

Sepoy

[seaJane]

Oops, apologies for missing the earlier post. I was born in Lewisham and all my mother's relatives live in the Catford / Forest Hill area now.

For all that, my mother's father (Richard William Marsh) J6031 was born in Christ Church (not Bournemouth as TNA says) in 1892. I haven't investigated farther but must do so in case I can connect him.

[Sepoy]

Oops, apologies for missing the earlier post. I was born in Lewisham and all my mother's relatives live in the Catford / Forest Hill area now.

For all that, my mother's father (Richard William Marsh) J6031 was born in Christ Church (not Bournemouth as TNA says) in 1892. I haven't investigated farther but must do so in case I can connect him.

seaJane

It would be wonderful if he turned out to be a relative, but it may give us some problems.

I also have Ted's 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. I cannot tell you how proud I am to be the current custodian of his medals and paperwork, a tangible link to one of the classic actions of the First World War. At a push, however, I would consider a swap for either Captain Bradbury or BSM Dorrell or Sgt Nelson's Medal groups

Sepoy

[David Ridgus]

I love the way threads like this build. If your original post was not moving enough Sepoy, to see it develop and have the image and the family background teased out, makes it humbling. No wonder you cherish the medals and paperwork

David

[Deptfordboy]

Very sad and poignant letter - thanks for sharing