Marsh, Thomas John
No.2715 – Private Thomas John Marsh – 51st Battalion AIF
Thomas John Marsh was born in London England in 1880 to Thomas and Jane Marsh The 1881 census lists Thomas living with his parents at 5 Trinity Terrace in West Ham London. After being educated in England, Thomas travelled to Australia in the 1890’s while he was a teenager. He spent time in Fremantle and Kalgoorlie where he worked as a labourer and miner respectively. Even though his stated home address was the Burlington Hotel in Fremantle, on the 13th August 1915 Thomas enlisted at the Kalgoorlie Drill Hall and was accepted as fit for service. The medical examiner found him to be 5 feet 5 inches in height; weight of 158 lbs; chest measurement of 36-38 inches; fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.
After spending two months at the Blackboy Hill Training Depot, Tom was assigned to the 6th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion on the 16th October 1915. He trained with this group in WA for the next few weeks while they waited for their embarkation orders to arrive. These soon came through and on the 2nd November 1915 Tom and his group boarded the HMAT Ulysses in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for Egypt.
Upon arrival in Egypt over three weeks later, the men were disembarked and sent to the 7th Training Battalion. As the Gallipoli evacuation was underway, the men weren’t sent to join the 28th Battalion at the Dardanelles but were retained in Egypt. Tom never did join the 28th Battalion as he remained with the 7th Training Battalion until then end of February 1916. On the 3rd March 1916 he joined the 51st Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir Camp. He trained with them in Egypt for the next few months until the 5th June 1916 when he boarded the transport ship Ivernia in Alexandria Harbour for the journey to France.
Arriving at Marseilles on the 12th June 1916, the men were disembarked and sent to the railway station where they boarded trains for the journey to Northern France. Arriving near Armentieres the men would have their first taste of Western Front life at Fleurbaix. They remained here for a few weeks then in mid July were sent to the Somme battlefield. In mid August the 51st Battalion had their introduction to the Somme battle when they took part in an assault on Mouquet Farm. Along with the 13th Battalion they advanced on Mouquet Farm but despite the bravery of the troops the attack was not successful. After coming through the attack unscathed, Tom went to help the wounded in No Man’s Land. Noticing several wounded men near the German trenches, Tom attempted to rescue them but was captured by the Germans.
Tom was taken back with other captured Australians, initially to Cambrai and was then sent to a Prisoner of War Camp at Dulmen. He remained a prisoner of war for the duration of the Great War and was repatriated to England in December 1918. After being medically checked he was given leave for a month and had to reported back in January 1919, though Tom reported sooner as he was sick with bronchitis and he was admitted to No.1 Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. After recovering he was granted an extension of leave, reporting to Weymouth Camp on the 21st January 1919. On the 12th February he was sent to No.1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny Camp. His embarkation orders finally came through and on the 3rd March 1919 he boarded the Euripides and set sail, arriving back in Fremantle on the 21st April 1919.
Thomas spent the next month in Fremantle and unfortunately it seems that he wasn’t in good health, both mentally and physically due to his time as a Prisoner of War. On the 26th May 1919 at Pier Street East Fremantle on a vacant block (on what is now a children’s playground) Tom took his own life. The reports from the police occurrence books are below.
Thomas Marsh was buried in the Church of England section of Fremantle Cemetery.
His sister who lived in Toronto, Ontario Canada would receive his personal effects and war medals.
East Fremantle Police Station Occurrence Book – ACC 1328 – Occurrence Book 8 25/8/1918-8/9/1920
Monday May 26th 1919
Tel message at 12.20pm from Mrs.Ley Preston Point Road stating that a man was lying dead in a paddock at the corner of Preston Point Road and Pier Street. P.C. Thompson & Peterkin left at once to investigate. P.C. Thompson returned at 3pm and reports on arrival at place mentioned found the body of a middle aged man lying on his back, the head being West and the feet East. The right arm was stretched at right angle to body full length, the left arm and hand was across the left breast. There were large blood stains on the shirt over the right breast, the left arm was covered with blood and also the trousers. At this time no weapon could be found that would cause death.
P.C. Thompson rang up Inspector Sellenger and also the Det. Office and notified them of the fact.
Shortly afterwards P.C. Peterkin found an open razor blood stained & other articles about 14 yards away from where the body was lying. There was also a large pool of blood at that spot and also traces where deceased had staggered & fell evidently through weakness before he got to the spot where he died. The P.C. assisted the undertaker to remove the body to Fremantle morgue and assisted to search the body & amongst other papers found a Soldiers Discharge certificate made out in the name of Pte Thomas John Marsh 51st Batt, late 28th Batt, discharge due on June 11th 1919, cash 2/ 1 ½ , sundry papers, photos, fountain pen, half razor, soldiers badge and empty beer bottle. At the morgue the P.C. examined the body and found a large open wound about 4 inches long and 1 inch deep on deceased’s left forearm near the elbow, all the artery being severed.
May 28th 1919
P.C. Caldow reports serving a witness summons on Edward Malland re Coroners Enquiry on Thomas John Marsh (deceased) returnable Fremantle Coroners Court 10am on 31st.
May 31st 1919
P.C. Thompson left station at 9am and returned at 11.40 am and reports having attended Inquest on Thomas John Marsh. Jury brought in a verdict that deceased died from hemorrhage caused by a wound on the left forearm self inflicted.
Fremantle Police Station Occurrence Book – ACC 419 – Occurrence Book 9/3/1919-4/8/1919
Monday May 26th 1919
Telephone 12.40pm from P.C. Thompson. The dead body of a man has been found in Pier Street East Fremantle off Pier St, it is covered with blood and we want the Detectives to come out before we remove the body. Det. Porter informed also Dr. Williams. Both left the scene per Motor Car at 1pm.
P.C. Thompson reports having conveyed the dead body of Thomas John Marsh from Pier St East Fremantle to the Fremantle Morgue at 1.45pm. P.C. Lambert to have Jury summoned from 9.30am on 25/5/1919 & Mr. Darby will open inquest on body
Property found on body of John Thomas Marsh – pipe, cash 2/1 & ½, belt, military discharge, fountain pen, collar, photos and papers, razor, badge of returned soldier, bank book, also empty beer bottle, same handed to P.C. Lambert.
May 27th 1919
Inquest – An inquest touching the death of Thomas John Marsh was opened at the Fremantle Court House at 9.30am before Coroner E.P. Dowler R.M & the following jury, Charles Robinson, Thomas Cecil and Len Wilson. After the body had been viewed and identified by Arthur Surry the inquiry was adjourned until the 31st May at 10am.
May 31st 1919
Touching the death of Thomas John Marsh was resumed and concluded before E.P. Dowley (Coroner) 10am and Jury, Charles Robinson, Thomas Cecil and Len Wilson. After hearing the evidence of the witnesses the jury came to the following verdict. Thomas John Marsh came to his death on 25th May 1919 from Hemorrhage caused by a wound to his left forearm self inflicted. Sgt Simpson present.