Marsh, Francis Courtenay

MARSH,

FRANCIS COURTENAY

BORN 27 APRIL 1867

Francis Courtenay Marsh

was born on 27 April 1867 in Westmeath, Ireland. His parents were Major Augustus Leacock Marsh (who served in the Border Regiment) and Agnes Marsh (née Scott). Augustus died in 1876 and is buried in Alwington, Devon.

Francis joined the School, aged 13, entering class V on 12 May 1880, at which time his widowed mother Agnes lived at Rosebank, Westward Ho!, North Devon. The 1881 census records him living at 14 South Parade Clifton.

He left the School on 31 July 1884, aged 17 and there is evidence that he went on to be educated at the United Services College, Westward Ho!, Devon.

He served in the Waziristan Campaign, North West Frontier (1894-95), was promoted to Major in 1909 and retired in 1911. He rejoined in 1914 at the outbreak of war serving in the Border Regiment, 6th Battalion. He was wounded at Cape Helles, and killed in action at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli on 10 August 1915, aged 48. He is remembered with Honour at the Helles Memorial, Turkey.

His name is recorded on a plaque, originally in the Memorial Hall in Chalfont St Peter, but now located in the Royal British Legion Club, Chalfont St Peter. He is also remembered on the Haileybury College Chapel Roll of Honour, Hertford Heath.

Francis left a brother, Lieutenant Colonel H E Marsh, who applied for the 1914-15 star in respect of Francis’s service.

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