oak Posted 14 February , 2007 Share Posted 14 February , 2007 Pals, I would be very grateful if anyone could give me the first name of, and any background details on, Brigadier-General W.B. Marshall, 29th Division (Gallipoli 1915). Regards, Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armourersergeant Posted 15 February , 2007 Share Posted 15 February , 2007 Phillip, I think you may mean Sir William Raines Marshall, who took over command of the 29th on Gallipoli and other divisions over a period of time. He had been on the WF with the sherwood foreasters in 1914 and went on to command 27th div in Salonika. Then on to Mesopotamia as corps and then GOC of mespotamia forces after Gen. Maude died. He seems to have been a fowrd thinking soldier, who carried, from memory atleast three wound stripes and rose from battalion commander to theatre commander in four years of service. he wrote a bio of his 'journey' that states he used no diary or notes but went from mmeory. As far as I can see his memory was very good. it is called 'Memories of four fronts' Abebooks usually have some copies going. Apologises if you mean someone else! Arm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Plummed Goose Posted 15 February , 2007 Share Posted 15 February , 2007 Dear Philip, I have Marshall as follows : Commanding the 87th Brigade till 16th August (from Helles landing onwards). Then he takes over the command of the 29th Division from Beauvoir de Lisle. When in Suvla he also takes very briefly (in August) command of the 11th Northern Division from Hammersley. eric PS : where do I get my info : Can't give you any exact sources because I have taken the habit of -when reading- to take notes about commanders which I have brought together in a list. I must admit that there are contradictions from different sources in my list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 15 February , 2007 Share Posted 15 February , 2007 Sir William Marshall GCMG, KCB, KCSI. As you point out, at the landings plain Brigadier General, commanding the 87th Landed together with his brigade at 'X' Beach between 8 and 9 a.m. (under cover of half of the 2nd RF who had gone in at 6 a.m.) Marshall's brigade major was Captain C. T. H. Lucas (Berkshire Regt) who described it thus "The landing of the 87th Brigade Headquarters differs from some others. I recollect a bright sunny morning, dead calm sea, not a shot fired. I had a bag in one hand, coat over my arm, and was assisted down a plank from the boat by an obliging sailor, so that I should not wet my boots. The only thing missing was the hotel." Things got a little hotter later that day and Marshall was amongst the wounded, "shot in the leg above the knee by a bullet, but refused to go sick, or even rest his leg." Details from 'The Story of the 29th Division' by Capt Stair Gillon regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 15 February , 2007 Share Posted 15 February , 2007 Lt-Gen. Sir William Raine Marshall GCMC [shown thus, though I suspect it should be GCMG], KCB, KCSI, CB, b. 29 Oct 1865 appears in Who's Who dated 1925 with much detail of service and awards, which I can post if you are interested. He went on to retired pay in 1923. Daggers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 15 February , 2007 Share Posted 15 February , 2007 A few more snippets re the first days By the 27th April (per Stair Gillon again) preparations were in hand for a general advance at 4 p.m. the objective was a line from the 'Aegean to Eski more or less at right angles to the lie of the peninsula.' Brigadier General Marshall was in command of all British troops on shore and Colonel Wolley-Dod was his chief of staff. By 9 p.m. a line was held from on the right 'a hill a quarter of a mile north-north-east of de Tott's, and the left on the mouth of Gully Ravine.' A further advance was ordered for 8 a.m. the next day [28th April] at which time Hunter-Weston also came a shore regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oak Posted 15 February , 2007 Author Share Posted 15 February , 2007 Ask and ye shall receive! Many thanks Pals. What a truly amazing concept and creation this forum is; a heaven for amateur researchers like myself. I am regularly moved by the helpfulness and kindness of Pals who take an amazing amount of time and go to so much trouble to answer queries. Because of the Forum I had the great privilege to meet with Eric during a visit to Gallipoli and Michael heads the list of people I would most like to meet. At this point some stiff upper lip types - do they still exist? - may be saying "I say. Steady on, old chap!" They can rest assured. The world hasn't gone to pot. I'm Irish - and you know how emotional we are supposed to be. Arm, he is the chap I'm interested in. Daggers, many thanks, but no need to post the "Who's Who." Michael and Eric, it's always great to hear from you and I am deeply grateful for your continuing support both in the Forum and outside. My interest in Marshall arose from mention of him in the contemporary book "The Irish at the Front." This very briefly quotes from a letter he wrote, to a friend in my hometown of Cork, concerning the Irish in Gallipoli. Thanks again Pals, Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
domwalsh Posted 15 February , 2007 Share Posted 15 February , 2007 Here's something from The Times on 1 October 1929. There's also a Times obit 1 June 1939. It's too big to post but let me know if you want a copy. dominic.walsh@ireland.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
domwalsh Posted 15 February , 2007 Share Posted 15 February , 2007 A follow-up comment (though not main obit) and letters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oak Posted 19 February , 2007 Author Share Posted 19 February , 2007 Many thanks Dominic, I really appreciate that very comprehensive information. I will email you off-Forum regarding the obit. Regards, Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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