Robert Douglas Marshall was a son of Rev. George and Priscilla Pyke Marshall. Rev George Marshall was a Baptist minister. He was born 16th July 1895 in Tobermore, County Londonderry. He was one of six sons. Robert, along with four other brothers, volunteered for service at the outbreak of the war. Robert enlisted in Bedford. Robert Marshall was for time with the Royal Engineers (No 1674). Private Robert Douglas Marshall won the Military Medal (M.M.). Private Marshall was serving with the 15th Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment when he was killed in action on 28th February 1918.
Further Information
Robert Marshall was a son of Rev. George and Priscilla Pyke Marshall. Rev George Marshall was a Baptist minister.
Both were born in England and no record of their marriage can be found on GRONI, so it must be assumed they were married in England.
Robert Douglas Marshall was born 16th July 1895 in Tobermore, County Londonderry. He was one of six sons.
Family: George Marshall, Priscilla Pyke Marshall, Joseph Charles Marshall (born 20th February 1893, Banbridge), George Stanley Marshall (born 20th February 1893, Banbridge), Cyril Pentelow Marshall (born 14th February 1894, Banbridge), Robert Douglas Marshall (born 16th July 1895, Tobermore), Hugh Clarke Marshall (born 4th August 1896, Tobermore), Frank Victor Marshall (born 7th September 1900, Tobermore).
The 1901 census lists Robert Douglas as age 5 living with the family at house 15 in Moneyshinare, Tobermore, County Londonderry.
Robert, along with four other brothers, volunteered for service at the outbreak of the war. Robert enlisted in Bedford.
Robert Douglas Marshall was for time with the Royal Engineers (No 1674).
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 15th May 1915:
For a minister to have every one of his six children fighting for his country, or training for that purpose, is surely a remarkable record. The minister in question is the Rev George Marshall, the Baptist minister of Cotton End, Bedford, and formerly of Tobermore, who is justly proud of his six soldier sons, all of whom are decided Christians and total abstainers. The two eldest sons are twins, and one of them, George Stanley Marshall, is a sapper in the Royal Engineers, and has been under German fire at the front whilst repairing trenches. The other twin is Private Joseph C Marshall, who is in the Royal Army Medical Corps, serving at the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth Common. The third son, who has just reached manhood, is Private Cyril P M Marshall, in training with the Bedfordshire Yeomanry. The forth is Lance Corporal R D Marshall, of the Royal Engineers, and the fifth son, Private H C Marshall, is in the 5th Bedfordshire Yeomanry. The youngest son is only a school boy of fifteen, but young though he is, he is not to be denied following in the footsteps of his patriotic and loyal brothers, hence he is training in the Junior Officers’ Training Corps belonging to his school in Taunton. We congratulate Mr and Mrs Marshall on the fine contribution they have made to the brave men who are fighting our cause in this terrible war, and pray that God may bless and protect their dear ones through the perils and dangers of the campaign. On the front cover ‘The Sunday Circle’ of 24th April (from which paper the above was taken), there are illustrations of Rev George Marshall, Mrs Marshall and their six sons.
Private Robert Douglas Marshall won the Military Medal (M.M.).
Private Robert Douglas Marshall was serving with the 15th Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment when he was killed in action on 28th February 1918. He met his death while on patrol duty in ‘No Man’s Land’ by a bursting shell, which instantly killed him.
One brother was badly wounded in France in the early stage of the war. Two others were engaged in Palestine operations. One of those was severely wounded and was in hospital in Alexandria for a time.
From Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 23rd March 1918: Private Robert Douglas Marshall
Private Robert Douglas Marshall, killed in action in France on 28th February
On the 17th March, at the morning service of the Baptist Church, Tobermore, the pastor, the Rev David Henderson, moved a resolution of sympathy with the Rev George and Mrs Marshall and family, in their sad bereavement, by the sudden home-call of their son, Private Robert Douglas Marshall, M.M., of the Cheshire Regiment who met his death while on patrol duty in ‘No Man’s Land’ by the bursting of a shell, which instantly killed the brave lad of the family which is so closely and almost indissolubly connected with the church here. Mr Henderson alluded to the painful occurrence as a personal loss to many of the congregation. The lad, he said, was born in Tobermore and brought up and nurtured in the very bosom of the church; he was a favourite in his own home, in the church and in the neighbourhood, where he was highly esteemed, and in many of the homes of the people he was regarded with almost as much affection as if he had been a member of the family.
A comforting letter was read from the Captain of his Company to the parents, and in it he was spoken of as a ‘very gallant soldier and a fine Christian gentleman’, for whom awaited further decorations and honours, as well as prospects of promotion to commissioned rank had his life been spared. The thoughtfulness and kind disposition of the lad were also revealed by a letter received recently from him by an honoured and aged member of the church, in which he sympathised with her in her changed circumstances, and recalled the many pleasant and happy days which he and his brothers spent in their boyhood under her hospitable roof. Mr Henderson said the parents present were in a position to know something of the nature of the crushing blow which had fallen upon the Marshall family, and he was sure that all their hearts went out in deepest sympathy with them in their sore bereavement, and that their united prayer was that God would help them to bear their sad and irreparable loss. There was one bright ray of light breaking through the otherwise impenetrable dark cloud and that was the one they all mourned was present with the Lord, which for him was very far better than the blood drenched fields of France.
While the motion was being put, many of the audience were visibly moved with emotion. The resolution, which was requested to be forwarded to the family, was passed by the entire congregation standing in profound silence, after which the pastor commended the stricken ones to the God of all comfort and consolation, in earnest fervent prayer.
Mr and Mrs Marshall have four other sons who likewise volunteered for service of their King and country on the outbreak of the war. One was badly wounded in France in the early stage of the war, and two were engaged in Palestine operations, one of whom was recently severely wounded and is now in hospital in Alexandria.
Private Robert Douglas Marshall is buried in Cement House Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
The Roll Of Honour in Tobermore Orange Hall lists all six of the Marshall brothers.
The CWGC record Private Robert Douglas Marshall, M.M., as the son of the Rev. George and Priscilla P Marshall, of The Manse, Cotton End, Bedford. England.
