| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
William Marson was born in Beverley the 3 Jan 1899. He was one of eight children of Frederick John and Sarah Ann Marson. Fred was a decorator and housepainter and his business in Beverley passed to his youngest son John after his death in 1926. William attended St Nicholas’ School, Beverley. His brothers Fred born 1890, and Frank born 1896, both worked in the cycle repair business. William was unmarried.
William joined the 5th Battalion of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry as a Private and served on the Western Front. On 27 Mar 1918 in the vicinity of Arras, William and many others in KOYLI were killed in action in the midst of an allied retreat. A surprise German offensive, Operation Michael was launched on 21 Mar 1918 forcing the British Army into full scale retreats and rear guard actions. The circumstances of William’s death are not known, though he was initially reported as being missing in action in the Beverley Guardian 11 May 1918. He is buried at Gommecourt British Cemetery No.2, some 17 miles to the south west of Arras. He was awarded the War and Victory Medals.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |