Memorial service for William Ernest Marshall at Lambley
Newspaper report from the Newcastle Journal
MEMORIAL SERVICE AT LAMBLEY CHURCH
A memorial service was held in Lambley Parish Church to the memory of Lance-Corporal William Ernest Marshall, Durham Light Infantry, aged 23 years, killed in action on May 3rd, whose parents live at Office Terrace, Coanwood. Despite the gale and pouring rain there was a crowded attendance, many being unable to gain admittance. The Alston Boy Scouts and the Lambley Boy Scouts attended. The latter presented a beautiful wreath of wild flowers gathered by themselves. The musical portions of the service were excellently rendered by the choir under the direction of Mrs Gulliver and Miss M. J. Elliott, who ably presided at the organ. The lesson was read by Mr William Walton, churchwarden. Appropriate hymns were selected for the service. The Nunc Dimittis and the special psalms (30, 90, 130) were rendered with fine effect by the choir of girls, led my Miss Annie Longstaff.
In the course of a brief address by the Vicar from St. John 15 c., 13 v., a touching reference was made to Marshall’s school and college life, and his work in raising the first Lambley troop of boy scouts, all of whom are now at the front, and also to his interest in the church, of which he was organist for many years at the morning services. The Vicar also asked the congregation to remember Private William Reay, Northumberland Fusiliers, formally of Coanwood, in Lambley Parish, a friend of the deceased, who was also killed in action. Lance-Corporal Marshall had just entered the teaching profession at Hirst School, and he was one of the first to respond to the call of his country.
Date: 5-Jun-1917
Author: Newcastle Journal
Where to find this: British Newspaper Archive
Contributed by Fiona Johnson - Durham
