Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War M.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant J. Marsland, Royal Sussex Regiment, who was killed in action in July 1917 - ‘He was always a great favourite with his men, who would have followed him anywhere, and done anything for him’

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued, with its case of issue; 1914-15 Star (2 Lieut. J. Marsland, R. Suss. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut. J. Marsland), good very fine and better (4) £1200-1400

M.C. London Gazette 16 August 1916:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During digging operations in very exposed ground, he showed the greatest coolness and disregard of personal safety in walking up and down encouraging his men under an enemy barrage of great intensity. It was due to his fine example that the work which was urgently needed was completed without loss of life and under very trying conditions.’

John Marsland, who was born in May 1896, the son of John Marsland of Ruskin Manor, Denmark Hill, London, and was educated at King’s College School, Wimbledon.

Enlisting in the Queen’s Westminster Rifles on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 8th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, in February 1915, and went out to France in July of the same year.

And there he remained on active service up until his death in action on 23 July 1917, aged 21 years, winning the M.C. for the above cited deeds on 5 May 1916, in addition to a “mention” (London Gazette 9 April 1917 refers).

In writing to his parents after his death, his C.O. stated:

‘I always had the very highest opinion of your boy, as he was always absolutely fearless of his own personal safety, and the more unpleasant a position was, the cooler and more unconcerned he was. He was always a great favourite with his men, who would have followed him anywhere, and done anything for him. I myself feel that I have not only lost a splendid officer, whom I could have trusted to carry out any enterprise, but a real friend.’

The gallant Marsland is buried in the Dickebusch New Cemetery Military Extension in Belgium.


Sold with his original M.I.D. certificate, dated 9 April 1917, in the name of ‘T./2nd Lt. J. Marsland, 8th Bn., Royal Sussex Regiment, together with three studio quality portrait photographs, in uniform, the whole on card mounts.