Fred Marston (1885-1917)
Yorkshire farmer's son joined 18th DLI commemorated on Arras Memorial
Fred Marston, the son of Edward and Ann Marston, was born on 21 January 1885 in Idle, near Bradford, Yorkshire. He had four brothers, one sister and one half-brother and in 1891 was living with the family in Westfield Lane, Idle. In 1901 his father was farmer of Westfield Farm in Idle and he was working on the farm. By 1911 his father had died and the family had moved to Shipley, where he was employed as a railway worker. In 1915 he was back in Idle working on Branham Farm and on 22 May 1915 joined the 18th Battalion (The Pals) Durham Light Infantry at Halifax. He arrived in France on 2nd December 1916 and was killed on 18 May 1917 at the Battle of Arras. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
Birth date: 21-Jan-1885
Death date: 18-May-1917
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 31 Westfield Lane, Idle, Bradford, Yorkshire (1891 census)
Westfield Farm, Idle, Yorkshire (1901 census)
5 Hope View Terrace, Carr Lane, Shipley, Yorkshire (1911 census)
Branham Farm, Idle, Yorkshire (British Army WWI Service Records 1914-1918)
Employment: Railway worker (1911 census)
Farm labourer (British Army WWI Service Records 1914-1918)
Family: Father: Edward Marston
Mother: Ann Marston (nee Hudson) Formerly married to Alexander Skinner
Siblings: Laura, Harold, Harry, Edward & Bertie Marston
Military service:
18th Battalion (The Pals) Durham Light Infantry
Regimental numbers: 328 & 32501
Private
Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
Memorial(s): Arras Memorial, Bay 8
Durham Cathedral DLI Book of Remembrance
Idle Cenotaph
Gender: Male
Contributed by John Edwards