Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Givenchy/Cuinchy’ December 1914-January 1915 operations D.C.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant F. W. Marsh, 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, who was killed in action on 26 January 1915, when a high-explosive shell detonated whilst ‘orderly room’ was being held in a farm yard causing many casualties

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (1330 Sjt: F. W. Marsh.1/L.N. Lanc: Regt.); 1914 Star, with clasp (1330 Sjt. F. W. Marsh. L.N. Lan: R.); British War and Victory Medals (1330 W.O. Cl. II. F. W. Marsh. L.N. Lan. R.) mounted court-style for display, together with Memorial Plaque (Frederick William Marsh) good very fine (5) £1,400-£1,800

D.C.M. London Gazette 23 June 1915; citation published 30 June 1915:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and coolness on many occasions, especially during the operations at Givenchy and Cuinchy from the 27th December, 1914, to the 29th January, 1915, when he gave a fine example of courage, resource, and cheerfulness at a time when much needed, and of great devotion to duty.’

Frederick William Marsh was born at Salford, Lancashire, on 22 March 1891, and educated at St John’s Church School, Farnworth, and the Higher Grade School, Bolton; subsequently entered the engineering trade at Messrs. Dobson & Barlow’s, Bolton, with whom he served two years; then took up Marine Engineering with Messrs. Vickers & Co., of Barrow, and while serving with them, assisted in the building of H.M.S. Princess Royal and H.M.S. Dartmouth; transferred to a Birkenhead firm, and, with a view to obtaining his Board of Trade Certificate, made several voyages in the Elder Demster Liners, serving as 6th Engineer R.M.S. Karissia, and afterwards as 4th Engineer; joined the Special Reserve in March, 1909; was called up on the outbreak of war in August 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from the following October [M.I.C. gives 20 September 1914], and was killed in action at Beuvry, near Bethune, 26 January 1915. Buried there. The adjutant wrote: “He was standing within a few yards of me in a farm-yard about two miles in the rear of the firing line at a place called Beuvry, near Bethune, when a shell fell and detonated with terrific violence quite close to us. Your son was killed instantly, and we buried him within a few yards of the spot, together with 11 other officers. I, as Adjutant of the battalion, feel the loss of Coy. Sergt.-Major Marsh very greatly. He was an excellent N.C.O. and much respected by us all. He died a true Briton, and died doing his duty manfully and well,” and Lieut. F. Tawdry: “Coy. Sergt.-Major Marsh was a very valuable man, and his loss is keenly felt by the officers of his battalion.” He was mentioned in despatches by F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French, for gallant and distinguished service in the filed and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. (De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour refers).

Marsh enlisted at Preston for the 1st Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and landed in France with the British Expeditionary Force on 20 September 1914. He was killed in action on 26 January 1915, and is buried in Lievin Communal Cemetery Extension.

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