Private Alban Edward Sandover Marshall, 42nd Battalion
Australian War MemorialAlban Marshall was born on 12 March 1888 in Brisbane. Known as “Ted”, he was the eldest of three children born to William and Julia Marshall. He received his education at Byrnestown and Wetheron State Schools, and later became a member of the local rifle club. After completing his schooling, Ted went on to become a farmer at a property in Wetheron where he was working at the outbreak of the war in 1914.
Ted Marshall enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 11 May 1916. His brother William had enlisted a year prior, and was already on active service abroad. Ted was assigned to the 3rd Reinforcements of the 42nd Battalion and began a short period of training in Australia. He embarked from Melbourne in early September on board the troopship Clan Macgillivray.
Private Marshall arrived in England in November 1916, and was sent to camp to continue training with his comrades. After a month in camp, he contracted influenza and was sent to hospital to recover. He returned to duty in early January 1917, and wrote to his father from the training camp:
“Just a few lines to let you know that I am getting on alright but I still have a cold. Now Dad I must tell you that I am leaving for France tomorrow night and I will send my address when I get over.”
He arrived on the Western Front two days later, joining his comrades who had been enduring a bitterly cold winter spent in the front lines. Marshall’s first months on the front were spent following the German retreat to the fortified Hindenburg Line. By mid-1917, the operational focus of the 3rd Division had shifted to the Ypres Salient in Belgium. As other allied units fought to break through German lines at Bullecourt, Marshall’s unit was sent to the Franco-Belgian border in preparation for a major attack.
The 42nd Battalion spent April and May of 1917 engaged in training and working parties to prepare themselves and their trenches for battle. On 25 May, allied aircraft and artillery began targeting German lines. Marshall was in the trenches with a working party later that afternoon when the enemy began shelling and firing on his position. Private Marshall was hit by enemy gun-fire, sustaining a severe wound to his head. He was rushed to an advanced dressing station for treatment, but little could be done for him. He died later that afternoon.
He was buried nearby at Strand Military Cemetery where his remains lies today.
His family later posted a memorial notice to him in the local newspaper which read:
“He gave his life for King and country. Loved by all who knew him.”
Private Ted Marshall was 29 years old.
- AWM Honour roll https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1647583
