The Great War in St John’s Parish: Hills Avenue

World War One - Hills Avenue

No. 16 Redcliffe: Thomas Leslie Marshall, born 1897 in Chesterton, was a private in B Company, 1/13th Princess Louise’s Kensington Battalion, the London Regiment. In 1911 he was living in Oban on Hill Road. He was killed 23rd August 1918, possible during the Battle of Albert, 21-23 August.

Adelaide Marshall, b 1896, volunteered for the Red Cross in 1917 at St Chad’s VAD hospital, Grange Road, Cambridge doing ward work. An interview on the IWM website with Annie Mary Esler shed light on life at the St Chad’s convalescent hospital.

Ida Marshall, 1893-1984, volunteered in 1916 at St Chad’s and then from 1917-1919 at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Netley where she was a full time nurse paid £20 per annum. She was awarded a scarlet efficiency stripe on 29.7.1918.

Their mother, Susannah Marshall, b 1862, volunteered from 1917-1919 at the First Eastern General Hospital in Cambridge. She was the wife of Edwin Marshall, brewer and publican.

No. 82 Fairlight: William Albert Parsons served in the Royal Naval Air Service. He baptised his son at St John’s on 16th April 1916.