MARSH, John

John Marsh was the younger son of Mr Alfred and Mrs Clara Marsh, of Woodfield, Wordsley, and brother of Mr Ernest Marsh, chairman of Brierley Hill Urban District Council, and manager of Marsh and Baxter Ltd, the well-known ham and bacon factors of Brierley Hill and Birmingham. He was educated at Wellington College and then worked at the firm’s factory at Brierley Hill. On the day that war was declared upon Germany in August 1914 he proceeded to Lichfield, and offered himself for enlistment, but as there was no medical officer in attendance he was told to ‘come again.’ Next day he went with four friends – Ralph Blakeway, Jack Palethorpe, Maurice Pearson, and Noel Pearson – to Worcester, and together they enlisted as Troopers in the Worcester Yeomanry. After being in the ranks for six months John Marsh was commissioned to the Yeomanry and in 1915 went to Egypt. They landed at Suvla Bay in August and fought at Chococolate Hill in an attempt to gain the vital ridge. Many attempts by the expeditionary force failed and after much combat and many casualties they were evacuated from the peninsula. In November the Worcesters moved to Alexandria for the defence of Egypt and the Suez Canal. Aided by German military advisers, the Turks invaded Egypt and won a considerable success on the 23rd April 1916 at Katia. Two Squadrons of the Worcester Yeomanry had been posted at Oghratina, a village some five miles in advance of Katia. The British force was light but the Turks numbered 2,500. The Turks attacked at 7 a.m. and cut the wire in front of the British position. There was heavy firing until 7.15 and then quiet for some time. The Turks were helped by a fog which covered their advance and enabled them to surround the village. They then rushed the British forces. The Worcesters fought desperately, as was shown by the fact that eight of the thirteen officers were killed and three wounded. A major problem was that shell fire killed many horses and the Worcesters were unable to withdraw with the other cavalry units. Among the prisoners was Lt John Marsh who was taken to Baghdad as a prisoner of war. He survived over a year of captivity but died on the 23rd October 1918. He was 28 years of age and is buried in Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery (XXI R 1) and commemorated on the Brierley Hill, Worcester Cathedral and Brierley Hill church Memorials.