South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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 The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Sergeant 15411 Francis John MARLOW - 2nd Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment


Died of Wounds on Wednesday April 3rd 1918 aged 25

Military History
     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders British War & Victory Medals St. Sever Cemetery Ext
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
25 Jul 1915 in France   Hatton: Memorial Cross  |  Roll of Honour  |  Mens Club
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Enlisted Other War Memorials
German Spring Offensive October 1914 in Birmingham ~
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units  
near Amiens ~  
     

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

Francis is listed as dying of wounds on 3 April 1918. He is buried in St. Sever, Rouen. In Rouen there were eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever.

The war diary does not help us identify when Francis was wounded and we have not found a Casualty Admission record. The war diary for the period March 22nd to April 3rd 1918 is transcribed, in full, below:

March 22nd: Battalion entrained at Arques Station and proceeded by Guillaucourt by rail where it detrained and proceeded by march south to Chaulnes encamping there for the night. END

March 23rd: Battalion proceeded to Bethancourt where it took part in enemy offensive operations [German Spring Offensive]. END

March 24th to March 31st: Battalion took part in rear guard actions during these dates.

Casualties: 4 Officers killed 16 wounded; 4 missing; 1 wounded and missing.
Other Ranks: Killed 30; wounded 170; wounded and missing 8; missing 99. END

April 1st: Battalion relieved in the line by French Army and proceeded to Cottinchy into billets. END

April 2nd: Battalion billetted in Cottinchy. END

April 3rd: Battalion moved by march route and bus to Riencourt.
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Jul Qtr 1892 in Warwick District  
   
Parents Names Abode
John and Jane both died of pneumonia in 1902
   
Schools Colleges
Shrewley, Hatton Council School ~
   
Address History Employment History                                                          
1892 - Warwick 1911 - Gardening Apprentice
1901 - 1a Brook Street, Warwick  
1905 - Shrewley, Hatton  
1911 - Shrewley (boarder with the Amos family)  
   
  • Various newspaper articles reported that both of Francis's parents, John and Jane died of pnuemonia at 1a Brook Street on the 20 Mar 1902 leaving Francis and his 4 siblings as orphans. In the 1911 census Francis and his siblings are all still in the Warwick area albeit separately.
      • Francis - living in Shrewley as a boarder with the Amos family
      • Amy Louisa - living and working as a Kitchen Maid at Barford Hill, Warwick
      • Grace Lucy - living and working as a Kitchen Maid at Church Grange, Kenilworth
      • William - living with William and Annie Heritage in Whitnash
      • Annie - living with the Dee family at 29 Friars Street, Warwick
  • Next of kin in Military Records are his sisters
  • The Coleshill Chronicle and Kenilworth Advertiser reported that in July 1905 Francis, of Shrewley Hatton Council School, was awarded a £10 per annum County Minor school scholarship
     

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