Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Albert Marshall, a fitter’s labourer, born on the 8th October 1869 in Loughborough, Leicestershire (son of Varley Marshall, 1832-1885 and Elizabeth Joines, 1833) and his wife Sarah Ann Marshall (nee Gould, married in the July quarter of 1889 in Loughborough), born in the April quarter of 1869 in Loughborough (daughter of Thomas Henry Gould, 1849 and Annie Taylor, 1850). Thomas was born in the October quarter of 1894 in Emmanuel, Loughborough and baptised on the 22nd February 1895 in Emmanuel Church, Loughborough, his siblings were, Ethel, born on the 19th September 1889 and baptised on the 20th November 1889 in Emmanuel Church, Loughborough, Florence Mabel, born on the 30th April 1893, Edith, born on the 8th July 1896 and baptised on the 19th February 1897 in Emmanuel Church, Loughborough, Elizabeth (Lizzie), born in the October quarter of 1897, Alice, born on the 24th January 1899 and baptised on the 4th October 1905 in Emmanuel Church, Loughborough and Albert, born in the October quarter of 1900 and baptised on the 20th July 1901 in Emmanuel Church, Loughborough, all his siblings were born in Loughborough, in March 1901 the family home was at 60, Wood Gate, Loughborough. In April 1911 Thomas was employed as a boiler maker’s labourer and was residing in the family home at 3, Albert Place, Loughborough, together with his father, a boiler maker, his mother and siblings, Ethel a hosiery trade worker, Florence a hosiery trade mender, Edith, an errand girl, Alice and Albert Henry, a schoolboy, born on the 26th September 1906 in Loughborough and baptised on the 27th November 1917 in Emmanuel Church, Loughborough.
Thomas enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 15th August 1914 in Loughborough, and was allotted the service number 10183. He gave his place of birth as Emmanuel, Loughborough, Leicestershire and age as 19 years 9 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as boiler rivetter.
His medical examination took place in Loughborough on the 15th August 1914 and recorded his apparent age as 19 years 9 months, that he was 5-feet 6 inches in height and had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34 inches.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Albert Marshall, mother, Sarah Ann Marshall, sister, Ethel Marshall, 4, Albert Place, Loughborough, Leicestershire.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Joined. At Leicester. 18/8/14.
Posted. Depot. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 19/8/14.
Posted. 6th Bn. Leicestershire Regt., Aldershot. Pte. 23/8/14.
Embarked. 29/7/15.
Killed in action. Place not stated. In the Field. 8/10/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 15/8/14 – 28/7/15. 348 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 29/7/15 – 8/10/15. 72 days.
Total Service. 1 year 55 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records: 8 Oct-15 - 6.15pm. Battalion relieved in the trenches by 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT and returned to billets at BERLES AU BOIS for the night 8th/9th October. The casualties between October 1st and 8th were: - October 1st 1 man wounded. October 2nd 1 man killed. October 7th 4 men wounded (by 1 rifle grenade of enemy). October 8th 1 man killed, Lieutenant M. C. HILL wounded in the knee by a rifle bullet late in the evening, whilst looking for an unexploded enemy shell.
On Monday, November 8th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – THE ROLL OF HONOUR. – Private THOS. MARSHALL, 6th Leicester’s, is reported to have been killed in action “somewhere in France” on October 6th. His parents reside at 4, Albert-place, Loughborough, and he enlisted directly after the commencement of the war. He was formerly a member of Emmanuel C.L.B., and 20 years of age.
On Tuesday, November 9th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. FALLEN AND MISSING. - (A photograph accompanied the article). – Pte. THOS. MARSHALL, 6th Leicester’s, aged 20, killed in action. His parents live at 4, Albert-place, Loughborough. Was formerly a member of Emanuel C.L.B.