A GREAT WAR WESTERN FRONT ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY ACTING REGIMENTAL SERGEANT MAJOR’S D.C.M. GROUP FOR GALLANTRY WHEN ONE OF HIS BATTERIES HOWITZERS WAS KNOCKED OUT

Distinguished Conduct Medal G.V.R.’212 B.S.MJR-A.R.S.MJR - J.E.W. MARSHALL. R.F.A.’, British War and Victory Medals ‘212 T.W.O.CL.1. J.E.W. MARSHALL. R.A.’ Mounted as worn. with Royal Field Artillery sweetheart brooch to B.W.M. ribbon.

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 June 1919. The Recommendation states that:

“on the 7th November 1918, when the battery was coming into action near Rosin, a 5.9 battery opened fire on it. The first round knocked out one of the howitzers and also killed and wounded several men. He superintended the removal of the wounded as well as collecting and conducting the teams to a place of safety.”

James Emanuel William Marshall, a 20 year old Tailor from Bow, London, enlisted into the Royal Horse Artillery as a Gunner on 15 July 1899. Originally given the Regimental Number 212 (later number 1018923), he transferred to ‘W’ Battery on 14 February 1900. Promoted acting Bombardier 6 days later, he was confirmed to that rank on 30 May, 1901 and to Corporal on 21 March 1905. Marshall was further promoted Sergeant on 17 October 1910 and Battery Sergeant Major on 8 October 1914, he was advanced to Warrant Officer II on 29 January 1915.

On 15 June 1915, he was severely reprimanded for ‘Irregular conduct in barracks’ and on 20 April 1916, was reduced to Sergeant (sentence remitted) for ‘Striking a soldier’. He embarked for France on 6 January 1917 and joined ‘A’ Battery, 91 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery in the ‘Field’, a week later.

Posted to ‘B’ Battery, 92 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery on 17 January 1918, he was posted to ‘D’ Battery on 19 July 1918 and was promoted Regimental Sergeant Major (Warrant Officer I), on 28 December 1918. Noted as embarking at Havre with the Cadre of 91 Brigade on 18 June 1919, for service with the British Army of the Rhine, he joined HQ 113th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery on 9 August 1919. Posted to the 2nd West Lancs Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (Territorial), Preston, on 15 March 1920, He was finally discharged from the army on 20 December that year.

Service records note his overseas service as:
South Africa 16 December 1905 to 18 October 1907
India 19 October 1907 to 31 May 1915
France 6 January 1917 to 18 June 1919
Army of the Rhine 7 July 1919 to 13 November 1919
Condition GVF, a little contact wear. A good Regimental Sergeant Major’s gallantry group