Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

William Marshall was born on 26 April 1868 at Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland, the fifth son of Robert and Martha Findlay (née McDonald) Marshall, their first-born William dying in 1866. Robert and Martha married in 1858 at New Monkland, Lanarkshire, and had eleven children, two of whom died young. William was at home at Shotts with his family in 1871, and again in 1881 when he was a message boy. His brother Daniel was also at home in 1871, a scholar, and in 1881, a fireman. By the mid-to-late 1880s William and an older brother, Daniel Marshall, were miners at Kaitangata, Otago, New Zealand. Daniel and his wife Jessie had four daughters born in New Zealand, their oldest child, Robert, staying in Scotland with his grandparents. By 1901 Daniel an ironmonger miner), Jessie and their children were back in Scotland.

William Marshall married Margaret Paterson Gage on 14 October 1896 at Kaitangata, New Zealand. They had two children - Robert born on 17 July 1897 at Kaitangata and Sophia Penman born on 7 November 1901 at Balclutha. Robert and Sophia transferred to Timaru South School from Balclutha in September 1910. William had been a cordial manufacturer at Balclutha prior to his move to Timaru.

On 13 January 1915, at the age of 46 years 9 months, William Marshall enlisted at Trentham. He was a cordial manufacturer, married with two children, and Presbyterian. Residing at 7 Abel/Alton Street – surely 7 Edward Street - he named his wife as next-of-kin – Mrs M. P Marshall, 7 Edward Street, Timaru. He joined the Samoan Relief Force and was willing to serve for nine months. He was 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighed 160 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 36½-39 inches. His complexion was fair, his eyes grey, and his hair brown. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all good, his limbs and chest well formed, his heart and lungs normal. His upper teeth were bad, his lower a pass. He was free from diseases, vaccinated and in good bodily and mental health. William admitted that he had been imprisoned in 1907 at Dunedin. “At the Magistrate’s Court, Kaitangata, on Thursday last, before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., William Marshall was charged, on the information of the inspector, with failing to destroy the rabbits on his property. He pleaded guilty, and was fined £2 and costs (7s).” [20 March 1907] Was this the same William Marshall?

After being inoculated against typhoid, Private W. Marshall embarked with the Samoan Relief Force per the “Talune”, departing from Auckland for Apia, Western Samoa on 27 March 1915. On 21 February 1916 Private W. Marshall of the Samoan Garrison was reported under treatment for a ruptured vein. Private W. Marshall, 19/181, cordial manufacturer, of Timaru, and ten fellow soldiers returned from Samoa by the “Talune”, arriving at Auckland on 4 December 1916 on two months furlough. On 19 January 1917, after two months furlough, he again disembarked at Samoa from the “Talune” and was promoted to Lance Corporal in order of seniority. Lance Corporal with the Mounted Infantry on 6 July 1917, he reverted to the rank of Private on 18 January 1918 at his own request.

William Marshall (next-of-kin Mrs M. P. Marshall, 7 Edward Street, Timaru) was one of nineteen South Canterbury men who were expected to return to the Dominion in October 1918. He embarked per the “Talune” on 8 October 1918, again for two months furlough. He was finally discharged in New Zealand on 16 December 1918, on the termination of his period of engagement, and was struck off the strength of the Garrison. His intended address 125 Church Street, Timaru. In the end, this 47-year-old man gave 3 years 339 days of war service, most of it overseas – in Samoa. He was awarded the British War Medal. He applied for a War Pension, being granted 20 shillings per week for 6 months on 10 April 1919.

William and Margaret remained in Timaru until his death, living on Edward and Wilson streets, then from the mid-1920s on Arthur Street. He was a labourer. William Marshall died on 1 February 1958 at Timaru, aged 89 years. On 15 July 1958 the Christchurch district of the Department of Internal Affairs enquired what the letters “S.R.F.” with regard to his unit stood for. The Army Secretary replied that they stood for “Samoan Relief Force” but added that the correct nomenclature of the Unit should be “Samoan Garrison”. William was buried in the General section of the Timaru Cemetery, his grave marked by an inscribed headstone and a service’s plaque which is inscribed “Samoan Garrison”. William was survived by his wife Margaret, son Robert and daughter Dolly Vartha. In the 1960s Margaret moved to Ashburton to live with her daughter and son-in-law. Margaret Paterson Marshall died on 14 August 1965 at Ashburton and, after a service at the Trinity Church, Ashburton, was buried with William at Timaru. Their son Robert, who had also served in World War One, had died on 9 July 1964, and their daughter Sophia (Dolly) Vartha died in 1999.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [13 January 2017]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5544 0078249) [07 May 2017]; Timaru Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council) [13 January 2017]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [13 January 2017]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [14 January 2017]; Otago Witness, 20 March 1907, Timaru Herald, 5 December 1916, 22 February 1916, 17 October 1918, NZ Times, 16 November 1916, Evening Post, 4 December 1916, 11 October 1918, Press, 16 August 1965 (Papers Past) [14 January 2017; 15 January 2024]; Timaru Herald, 3 February 1958 (Timaru District Library) [08 May 2017]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [14 January 2024]; 1871, 1881, 1891 & 1901 Scotland census returns (ancestry.com.au) [15 January 2024]; Scotland Birth registration transcription (ancestry.com.au) [15 January 2024]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

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