W Marsh was originally from Widness in Lancashire.
He served with 1st Bn Borders, Support Company, No 24 Mortar Platoon (A jeep-equipped mortar platoon) during Operation Market Garden. He landed on the 17th September, on LZ S at Renkum. He was later taken PoW at Arnhem, after being listed as missing on the 25th Sept. He is listed as the platoon commanders batman (Lt George Blain Coulthard also PoW). It is recorded that the OC Mortars (Capt Barry Ingram) "severely chastised Lt Coulthard for abandoning the 2 guns (mortars) at Renkum, and that in retrospect it was very unfair."
Support Company began to run low on ammunition from the 21st. The Borders were entrenched to the perimeter of the Oosterbeek, and suffered heavy attacks on the 25th, so potentially that is when Marsh was taken PoW. Marsh was held in Stalag XIIA Limburg, PoW No: 075665.
Compiled with information from "When Dragons Flew - An illustrated history of the 1st Battalion The Border Regiment 1939-195". Silver Link Publishing, ISBN 1857940482 and photo via the family.
Read More
Latest Comments
There are currently no comments for this content.
Add Comment
In order to add comments you must be registered with ParaData.
If you are currently a ParaData member please login.
If you are not currently a ParaData member but wish to get involved please register.