1896 – 1917

Farmer

Faithful Unto Death¹⁶

William Stanley Marsh (Stanley^∞ as he was to be known) was born on 23^rd June 1896⁸, the second of seven children born to Emma and Thomas John Marsh, Farmer of Crosemere Farm¹.

In an area noted for its “quiet woodlands … dotted in between the abundant … dairy pastures”⁹, young Stanley and his siblings³ would have had an exciting childhood, with many opportunities for play and adventure.  Exploring the many “short cuts .. over the meadows”⁹ would have made the daily walk to and from the local school far more interesting!⁹

Sundays would have been quiet days; whilst his parents attended the Service at Ss Simon & Jude³⁷, where, the Vicar³¹ noted, “all has continued very satisfactory”⁹, Stanley would have enjoyed Sunday School, eagerly anticipating the concerts and annual treats⁹.

By the time he was fourteen², Stanley had entered Wem Grammar School⁴⁴ as a boarder.  Whilst encouraged to strive for academic achievement, he undoubtedly enjoyed soaking-up the atmosphere of the bustling market town with its small malting and tanning industries⁴¹.

Afterwards, he returned to the family farm, to work alongside his Father and older brother Jim²; against the backdrop of escalating tensions amongst the European Great Powers³⁹, they probably spent many moments discussing possible outcomes and eventually the outbreak of war itself.

Stanley enlisted with the Coldstream Guards*¹³ on 24^th July 1915⁴⁰, after which, Private WS Marsh 16526 underwent training at Windsor²⁷, where the wait for deployment was surely agonizing, as reflected in an upbeat but poignant letter home²⁷,

“I shall be glad when our turn comes although no one wants to go back who has been.  There are a lot who have been wounded here”²⁷.

Shortly after being posted to France in May1916²³, Stanley was wounded by shrapnel, forcing his admission to hospital in England⁴⁷.  His return to the front line in October²³ was sooner than expected²⁷, but with seemingly typical pragmatism he wrote,

“… being that I am for it again I do not mind … others have got it to do so I am sure I shall stand it as good as most.  I was lucky the last time and think I shall be this.”²⁷

In 1917 he was with his Battalion at Passchendaele^°6, infamous for the huge loss of life and quagmire of mud and sludge in which the offensive was fought.  It was here, on 31^st July and 9^th October that Stanley, well-liked and trusted¹⁹, was one of the few selected to be a Runner¹⁹.

On 10^th October, the Battalion was at Houthulst Forest⁶ (now reduced to little more than a few tree stumps³⁶) where, having initiated an attack against the enemy, the War Diary⁶ tells us that Stanley’s Company suffered dreadful consequences:

130 ^*O.R.’s wounded and 8 Officers wounded.
At dawn a number of enemy were seen crawling about in front of the
Right.  These were fired on, casualties being inflicted.  Standoff afterwards.
36 Germans surrendered with 2 m. guns …
Casualties were 35 O.R.’s killed and 6 Officers killed.

Private WS Marsh was reported as missing, the understanding being that, “whilst on an errand in the course of action he disappeared.  No trace of him has been discovered … it is very likely … as the enemy were consistently driven back … that the poor lad was killed by a shell as he went with his messages”¹⁹. As no trace of him was “discovered”¹⁹, Stanley was reported as missing, presumed killed in action⁴⁷.

Having died in, “one of the greatest disasters of the war”⁴⁵, Private WS Marsh is Remembered with Honour on Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium¹⁴.  He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal⁷.

At a memorial service held in Ss Simon & Jude on 10^th April 1919⁴⁷, a large congregation turned out to show their respects for Private WS Marsh, one of their “Boys”, who had been “liked … so much … a general favourite and so well thought of”¹⁹.

Two weeks later, on 23^rd April, the PCC approved the design and inscription of a mural tablet in his memory, agreeing that a Faculty (permission) be applied for⁹.

We Will Remember Him.

Private William Stanley Marsh, 16526, 3rd Bn. Coldstream Guards.

Killed in action in Belgium on 10^th October 1917.

Remembered on Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Panel 9 to 10.

The rain is all heaven’s
 answer, and with
hearts
Past reckoning we are
carried into night and even sleep is
nodding here and there⁴³