Grandparents

Lionel’s paternal grandparents were William Marsh (1834-1864), a grocer and pawnbroker, and Jane Kneale (1839-1868). At the time of William’s death on 3 November 1864 they lived at 222 City Rd, Hulme. His maternal grandparents were Thomas and Sarah Clarke. Thomas was born about 1816 in Manchester and in 1861 was a brewer, living at 8 Bury St, Hulme, with Sarah and 6 children, of whom the youngest was Charlotte, aged 4. Thomas was described as a shopkeeper in 1877.

Parents

William Marsh was born in Eccles on 3 June 1861. By 1871 both his parents had died and he was living at 222 City Rd, Hulme, with an aunt and uncle. He married at the age of 16 in 1877. At that time he was a pawnbroker.

Charlotte Clarke was born in Manchester about 1857. She and William married on 1 August 1877 at All Souls church, Ancoats. Their address at that time was 189 Every St, Ancoats. By 1881 they had moved to 69 Lower Moss Lane and had 2 children and a servant. In 1891 they were living at 93 Boston St, Hulme, with 5 children. William was now a newsagent and stationer. Charlotte’s mother was also living with them, described as a retired beer house keeper. In 1901 they lived at 61 Darnley St, Stretford, with 8 children. In 1911 they were at 89 Ayres Rd, Old Trafford, with 5 children. William was now described as a milk dealer. The couple had been married for 34 years. They had had 10 children of whom 3 had died. Their oldest child was William Marsh who also died in the Great War in 1917 (see below). Lionel was their ninth child and he had a younger sister, Mona Eveline. Mona was born on 1 October 1896 and was baptised at St George’s church, Hulme, on 25 December 1896. She married Hugh Rowlands at Christ Church on 7 August 1920 and they lived at 19 Buxton Avenue. William Marsh Snr died in 1928 and is buried with his father in Sale Cemetery. Charlotte died in 1940.

Lionel

Lionel was born on 4 June 1895 and was baptised on 18 August 1895 at St George’s church, Hulme. In 1911, aged 16, he was an apprentice in letterpress printing. On 5 July 1912 he sailed from Liverpool to Quebec on the Allan Line ship, Victoria. He seems to have travelled alone and the passenger list describes him as a milkman, aged 18. In 1914 he was still resident in Canada.

He served as a private with the 42nd Battalion of the Canadian Infantry, service number 150523. He died in service on 2 October 1916 at No 9 Casualty Clearing Station, France. He left £72 11s 11d.

He is buried at Contay British Cemetery, Somme, France, reference II. E. 22.