Australian Groups

Lot 3785    Session 13 (2.30pm Thursday)    Australian Groups

Estimate $3,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

FAMILY GROUP. Father. Pair. Crimea Medal four bars, Alma; Balaklava; Inkermann; Sebastopol. Turkish Crimea Medal. Col. Sgt J. Marshall 68th L.I. Son. Pair. Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (EVIIR) - Commonwealth of Australia. Meritorious Service Medal (EVIIR) - Commonwealth of Australia. Master Gunner A.K. Marshall Royal Australian Artillery. First medal impressed, second unnamed and both with laureated top bar suspension brooches. Other medals engraved. Good Very fine.

Together with copies of the following extracts from the Adelaide Advertiser. The Late Mr John Marshall. Our obituary columns contain a notice of the death of Mr John Marshall, for many years a resident of Clare. Mr Marshall suffered a painful internal complaint and was taken to the Adelaide Hospital, where he underwent an operation three weeks since. He, however, never recovered and died in that institution on Monday last. The deceased who was 58 years of age was one of the few survivors who fought in the Crimean War in the winter of 1854. In that noted campaign he was Colour Sergeant of the 68th Durham Light Infantry and was present with his regiment at Alma; Inkerman , Sebastopol and Balaklava. For his bravery in that war he was awarded the Crimean Medal with four clasps and the Turkish Medal. On the return of the Regiment to England he purchased his discharge and embarked with his wife for South Australia arriving here in the ship British Trident. He has since lived principally at Clare excepting for a few years which he spent on the Victorian Goldfields. Latterly he has been in the employ of the Hon. G.C. Hawker at the Bungaree Station. He leaves a wife, three sons and four daughters, one of the sons being Sergeant A.K. Marshall of the Permanent Artillery. Mr Marshall, who was born in Warwickshire, England had been in the colony twenty-eight years. His funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon, when his remains were interned in the West Terrace Cemetery in the presence of a large number of friends. Veteran Soldier: Mr A.K. Marshall, Underwood South Australia. Life of Adventure. To have travelled stock to Wyndham 50 years ago, dug for gold at Ballarat, in the days of the boom and served his country is the unique record held by Mr. A.K. Marshall who is living in retirement at Goodwood. Although in his seventy third year Mr Marshall is as straight as a ramrod and as active and as mentally keen as many men 20 years his junior. It was quite fitting that he should adopt the military profession as he was born in the St. Elmo barracks, Malta, where his father was stationed as a Sergeant. The latter served through the Crimean War. Mr Marshall possesses his father's Crimean Medal. Attached to it are four bars, which constitute a rare distinction. Few men were engaged in four different battles, sickness generally putting them out of action before they had seen much active service. Mr Marshall landed in South Australia with his parents in 1857. They went to a farm at Clare. After remaining a short period in South Australia they proceeded to Bunninyong in Victoria. Attacked by Aborigines. While Mr Marshall was following the calling of a drover he in company with 24 other men undertook the hazarous task of droving 1000 herd of cattle from Barrow Creek, Central Australia., to Wyndham in the far north west. That was in 1875. The aborigines were dangerous and caused the party endless trouble. Skirmishes with the natives were a frequent occurrence and before the party reached its destination five members died from spear wounds inflicted by the aborigines. It was intended to establish meat works at Wyndham and the object of the 12000 mile trek was to start the breeding of cattle in this far corner of the continent. Although the animals arrived there the works then intended were never established. The journey took six months to complete and was full of hardships. Mr Marshall saw the great mining boom in Ballarat when there were nearly 50,000 men engaged in the industry. The companies employed vast numbers in their mines, the Band of Hope and Albion alone finding work for 5000 men. It was at Ballarat where Mr Marshall first became acquainted with the Australian militia. He here joined the Victorian Volunteer Rifles in 1870. A few years later he came to Adelaide and during the Russian scare in 1877 joined the Adelaide Rifles which was formed by the Government. First Shot from Glanville Fort. In 1882 the Permanent Artillery was established with Mr Marshall quick to offer himself. He was one of the first to be accepted. He was discharged from the service in June 19234 with the rank of Lieutenant on the Retired List. During his long service he met many distinguished persons and was a member of the staff of the present King and Queen when they visited Australia as the Duke and Duchess of York. Mr Marshall witnessed the opening of the first Commonwealth Parliament and was later presented to the Duke and Duchess who closely questioned him regarding his experiences outback. In 1880 the military established Fort Glanville and it fell to the lot of Mr Marshall to fire the first shot from a 10 inch Armstrong muzzle loader. This weapon fired a 400lb shot and absorbed 130lbs of powder making a terrific noise when discharged. In 1883 he helped to open Fort Largs. Mr Marshall assisted to train the South Australia contingents who went to the Boer War and had a most strenuous time during the Great War as Garrison Sergeant at Keswick. A great lover of horses Mr Marshall was until a few years ago a familiar visitor at the Adelaide and Country Shows where he was successful in many ring events. He was regarded as one of the foremost horsemen in Adelaide in his heyday.