Private John Henry Marsh

Service Number: 36605

1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment

Killed in Action 15th June 1917

Husband of Mrs. Marsh, 3 Cuthbert Street, Burnley

From the Burnley Express dated 27th June 1917:  SECOND BROTHER KILLED

Mrs. Marsh of 3, St. Cuthbert Street, Burnley, has received a letter from an officer of the East Lancashire Regiment announcing the death of her husband, Pte. John Henry Marsh, of the same Regiment, who was killed in action on June 15th.

The unfortunate soldier, who was 28 years of age, enlisted at Burnley on August 7th, 1914 and after training was drafted to Egypt, and afterwards to the Dardanelles where he took part in the fighting on the Peninsula.  While in the Eastern theatre of war, he contracted fever, and eventually was given a leave home.  In December 1916, after recovery, he was drafted out, and had been in much severe fighting.  Previous to enlistment he was a miner at Barden Pit, and was closely identified with St. John's Roman Catholic Church and School, being on the roll of honour at Ivy Street.  The deceased soldier leaves a widow and one child.

A brother, Pte. James Marsh, of the Border Regiment paid the supreme penalty on December 18th, 1914, while another brother, Pte. Charles Marsh of the East Lancashire Regiment is at present in St. Mary's Hospital, Whalley.

The letter received by Mrs. Marsh says: - "It grieves me to write to you under such painful circumstances, but being the sergeant-major of your beloved husband's company, and accompanying on the post where he met his death, I only think it my duty to write and enlighten you a little.  He met his death while nobly doing his duty.  He was one of the cleanest and best soldiers I ever met.  You see, I went to Egypt with them, the Dardanelles, then came out to this country just six months ago, so the experience I have of him is great.  He was always cheeful and tried very hard to please eveyone.  He was loved by all who came in contact with him, and he will be sadly missed by all.  We were out putting barbed wire between the Boches and our lines, when he was caught by a sniper and killed instantaneously.  I had him brought in and buried in a nice little grave by the side of many other brave comrades.  It will be some consolation for you to know that he received the last rites of the Church before going into action".

Buried in Crump Trench British Cemetery, Fampoux, France: II. A, 13