Company Sergeant Major William Frank Marshall
7th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
06/09/1916
1914-15 Star
NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post
of Monday 18 September 1916
Roll of Honour. It is with great regret
that we have to announce the death of Company Sergeant
Major W F Marshall of the Jersey Company Royal Irish
Rifles. The news of the demise of this gallant NCO came
to Jersey in private letters on Friday, but in as much
that these were not official we refrained from publishing
the same. On Saturday night, however, Mrs Marshall received
the sad news in a letter sent by Mr J Le Breton, the
Regimental Sergeant Major of the 77th Royal Irish Rifles.
The letter was as follows "Somewhere in France.
12 September 1916. Dear Mrs Marshall, It is with great
regret that I have to inform you of the death of your
dear husband, who was killed on 6 September fighting
for his King and Country. I am very sorry to say that
the dear old country suffered very much, all our NCOs
are either killed or wounded. I can assure you that
Will was a good soldier and was loved by his men. He
was buried just outside Brach, I was there and superintended
his burial. Will you please accept my deepest sympathy
to you and the family in your great hour of trial. Your
sincerely, J LE BRETON, RSM". The deceased
young NCO, who was only 23, was widely known he having
been in the employ of Mr J W Orviss as a traveller.
He had made many friends who will be grieved to learn
of his having been called upon to make the supreme sacrifice
for his Country. Company Sergeant Major Marshall leaves
a widow (nee Miss Hibbs) and one child, and to her and
other members of the family we would tender our respectful
sympathy. We might state that but a few days ago Mrs
Marshall received a Parchment which had been recently
handed to her husband in recognition of his gallantry
in the field.
