Australian Groups

Lot 1519    SESSION 6 (9.30AM TUESDAY 31ST AUGUST)    Australian Groups

Estimate $2,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

TRIO TO RA NAVAL BRIDGING TRAIN: 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. P.J.Marshall A.B. on first medal, 177 C.P.O. P.J.Marshall. R.A.N.B.T. on last two medals. All medals impressed. Swing mounted, toned very fine - extremely fine.

Percy John Marshall, seaman, age 31, born at Adelaide, Sth Aust; Enl.17May1915 at Melbourne, Vic in AIF for service abroad in Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train with commencing date of engagement 27Mar1915 at Largs Bay, Sth Aust, previous service of 3 years with RNR including 6 months in German New Guinea with naval contingent of AN&MEF; Emb.04Jun1915 as AB Driver (i.e. wagon driver) with 1st R.A.Naval Bridging Train; Arrived at Lemnos 21Jul1915 then to Gallipoli; to Leading Seaman 15Feb1916, Petty Officer 11Mar1916 and CPO 31Mar1916; to hospital with malaria 02Aug1916; rejoined unit in Montazah 15Oct1916; Unit disbanded 27Mar1917; RTA 29May1917; Disemb.08Jul1917 at Melbourne, Vic; Disch.24Jul1917 after unit demobilised; later worked as a bank clerk; Died suddenly 19May1933; Funeral service left his residence at St Peters, Adelaide for the West Terrace Crematorium on 21May1933.

Percy John Marshall was a grandson of Samuel Marshall who arrived in South Australia from England in February 1839 and in 1850 established a music shop, later S.Marshall & Sons, music retailers, in Adelaide. Percy's father, Alfred Witter Marshall, who was the head of the music firm died in December 1915 while Percy was serving on Gallipoli.

The Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train was formed on 28 February 1915 as a horse drawn engineering unit attached to the Royal Naval Division at the time serving as infantry on the Western Front. It was manned by members of the RANR dressed the same as Infantry but with a special RNBT badge. During its short life 1st RANBT served 5 months on Gallipoli, took part in the amphibious assault on El Arish and participated in the First Battle of Gaza. The unit was disbanded on 27 Mar 1917.

With research including copy of Service File and roll of the Naval Contingent of the AN&MEF that includes P.Marshall in No.6 Company.