George William Marshall Jr.

George William Marshall, Jr.

The following profile was researched and compiled by Candice L. Buchanan and Glenn J. R. T. Toothman III, for publication in "The Rain Day Boys: The Greene That Lay Near Grimpettes Woods" (2017). Learn more at RainDayBoys.com.

Birth: 27 February 1895 Time, Morris Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania

Parents: George William Marshall Sr. and Mary Margaret Bush

Residence at time of enlistment: Time, Morris Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania

Physical description: 5 feet 10 1/4 inches tall, dark complexion, grey eyes, dark brown hair

Death: Killed in action 16 August 1918, Albert, Picardie, France

Age at death: 23 years old

Last resting place: Body not recovered/identified. Tablets of the Missing, Somme American Cemetery, Bony, Picardie, France

Military rank: Serial No. 2470177, Private, Company C, 313th Machine Gun Battalion, 80th Division

Additional information:

Fred and George Marshall were brothers born almost exactly two years apart. George was the older of the two boys and took his father’s name. He came into the world on 27 February 1895.[viii] A few days short of George’s second birthday, Fred joined the family on 24 February 1897.[ix] An older sister, Frances Martha, and a younger sister, Elsie Margaret, completed the household.[x] These four children were raised in the small community of Time, Pennsylvania, by George and Mary Margaret (Bush) Marshall, who operated the local general store.[xi]

Fred and George both became teachers.[xii] George had taught three terms and Fred one term, before their respective enlistments for service in World War I.[xiii] Both joined Company K. George entered first and served on the Mexican border in 1916.[xiv] He intended to go with the Company, and his brother, to training in 1917, but was honorably discharged due to “flat feet.”[xv] While Fred left with Company K, George refused to stand by. He was accepted into the National Army and joined Company C, 313th Machine Gun Battalion, 80th Division.[xvi] Both brothers were on French soil by Summer 1918.

Descriptions of the area from Greene County soldiers frequently related how the countryside landscape and scenery were reminiscent of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Whether because of this or in spite of it, Fred seems to express some homesickness in letters to his parents. Fresh from his sea crossing on 17 May 1918, Fred told his mom and dad that he would, “only want one more boat ride in my life,” presumably the one that would take him home. At the end of the month, 29 May 1918, Fred wrote that he was longing for the “faces and places of old Greene County.”[xvii]

Having been divided from his younger brother by the military, George expressed angst in a letter home to his sister, Elsie, about not knowing where Fred might be. First, he tells her, “I haven’t heard from Fred for a good while. Am going to write him a letter this evening.” After commenting on some other items, he returns to the topic of his brother, saying, “I haven’t found out anything about where Fred is yet. I don’t think he is close where I am but might be later.” George’s words are profoundly sad because of the date on which he wrote them –  29 July 1918. He had no way of knowing his brother had fallen in battle that very day.[xviii]

George took a different tone when he wrote to Elsie on 13 August 1918. Once again, there is a painful irony to this date, the Marshall family at home in Pennsylvania, received the War Department telegram announcing Fred’s death that very day.[xix] George, separated from both family at home and his brother in France, was still doing his duty, unaware of the grievous loss. Instead, he relayed the good news that he had recently received a letter from Fred. In a big brotherly manner, he remarked, “He is well and I hope he keeps his good health and he can if he takes care of himself. I think he will do that.”[xx]

This appears to have been George’s last letter home. Records conflict about whether he fell on the 16th or 17th of August, but a personal account written to George’s parents by his chaplain, states that it was 16 August 1918.[xxi] The Waynesburg Republican published the chaplain’s letter in combination with another letter that accounted for Fred’s last battle:

Sons Died In Battle

Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Marshall Receive Accounts of How Their Two Boys Fell in France

One killed on the Front Line By a German Bullet; the Other Killed By a Boch Shell While Conveying Food to His Comrades.

Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Marshall, of Time, Greene county, who lost two sons within a fortnight on the battlefields of France, recently received the details of their deaths. Both men were killed in action during the heavy fighting in the battle of the Marne, the latter part of July. The first killed was Fred Marshall, a member of Co. K, 110th Infantry. Sergeant Wm. G. Meighen, who himself has since been killed writes concerning Fred Marshall's death as follows:

"Since I have seen his name in the casualty list I am now at liberty to inform you concerning Fred Marshall's death. He died like a real soldier, with his face to the front, July 29th. I would write his father what I know concerning the particulars, but believe you can tell both his father and mother what I write you just as well and at the same time express my sincere regrets that he was among those who gave their lives for their country in that fierce fighting we were in during the latter part of July.

Fred was not with our company when killed. A regiment on our immediate right had called on our company for two automatic rifle teams to assist them in advances. A team consists of a runner and two carriers. Fred was a member of one of the two teams sent to the other regiment by our company commander. What I obtained concerning his death was from "Buck" Weaver, a member of the same team, who escaped unhurt.

The firing from the German machine guns was unusually hot that morning and the regiment to which Fred was attached, after advancing more than a kilometer, was ordered to retire and wait for artillery support. They were crawling forward at the time and when they were ordered back, Weaver noticed Fred did not turn and called to him, informing him of the order to retire. On receiving no reply, he shook Fred's leg and discovered he was either dead or hard hit. Bullets were flying thick and fast, but Weaver crawled up along Fred's side and found him dead, having been hit in the head by a machine gun bullet.

Death had been instantaneous, as Weaver says he never heard him utter so much as a groan. Poor boy, he was an A soldier and a true blue friend, but such are the sacrifices that must be in order to make the rights of the common people safe. As best you can, express my sympathy to both Fred's father and mother.

Sergeant W. G. Meighen."

Just thirteen days later the other son, G. W. Marshall Jr., was killed. He did not know of his brother's death. G. W. Marshall Jr. was a member of the National Army and left Waynesburg early last fall for Camp Sherman and from there was sent overseas as a member of a machine gun battalion. His parents have received the following letter concerning his death from Lieut. Thomas B. Roche, Chaplain of the 313th Machine Gun Battalion:

"Mr. G. W. Marshall and family: You have doubtless heard of the death of your son on the field of battle and I hasten to offer you a word of sympathy and consolation, at the same time assuring you that all the officers and men of the battalion condole with you in your bereavement. Your son, George, was well liked by his comrades and highly esteemed by the officers, who spoke frequently of his sterling qualities.

His death and the causes which brought it about should be a source of pride to you. He volunteered to carry the meal for the men through a heavy shellfire and on his return from the kitchen with the food for his companions he was struck by a fragment of shell that burst near him. He died a martyr of charity and kindness to his comrades. In your sorrow and grief, Mr. Marshall, it must be a comfort and consolation to know that your son died so nobly, so heroically, not engaged in killing, but in assisting his fellowmen. I know that God will assuage and ease your burden and bless always the father of an American hero.

Very sincerely,

Thos. B. Roche

1st Lt. Chaplain, 313 M. G. Bt."[xxii]

George’s body was not recovered from the battlefield. He is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Somme American Cemetery in Bony, Picardie, France.[xxiii]

Fred’s body was brought home, however, and his parents created a memorial to both sons in West Finley Cemetery, just across the Greene-Washington County line. The two boys have tombstones, but more substantially, they also have memorial plaques affixed to their parents’ large pillar. The inscriptions mark their service and sacrifice. Each bears this epitaph, “This American Boy Came, Saw, Fought and Died That Liberty Should Not Perish from the Earth."[xxiv]

In 1934, Margaret M. Marshall, Fred and George's mother, was granted $10.00 a month for 20 months, per son, as part of the Pennsylvania Veteran’s Compensation Act, on behalf of the two boys.[xxv]