MARSHALL, Dudley

Dudley Marshall was born in 1894 and his parents were James and Catherine Marshall of High Park Avenue, Wollaston. His father was manager of the Novelty Glassworks in nearby Gladstone Road. Dudley Marshall attended Stourbridge Grammar School from 1907 to 1911 and later worked at Lloyds Bank, Cradley Heath. After enlisting he was selected for officer training and was commissioned to the Royal Fusiliers. He joined the 4th Battalion in the 3rd Division. After major involvement in the battles of Arras in April and May 1917 the battalion moved to Flanders and the Third Battle of Ypres in September. In an attack near the Menin Road on the 17th September Dudley Marshall was killed in action. In a letter to his parents his Company Commander wrote, 'He died a hero's death, leading his men forward under tremendously heavy shell fire. I saw him hit and he died instantly.' He was buried on the battlefield with a cross over his grave. Second Lieutenant Dudley Marshall was 23 years of age and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. His original grave must have been lost in the course of battle. He is also commemorated on the Stourbridge, Wollaston church, King Edward VI College Memorials and on his parents' grave at Wollaston.