Robert Marley (1886-1917)
From Sunderland, served with 18th Battalion DLI, commemorated on Arras Memorial
Robert Marley was born in Deptford, Sunderland, late in 1886, the son of Henry and Ellen Marley. He had two brothers and two sisters and in 1901 he was working as a rivet heater living in Vine Street, Sunderland. In April 1903, while living in Silver Street, Deptford, he joined the 3rd (Militia) Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI) but was discharged a month later. In 1911, he married Alice Mulley and they had four children.
Some time after the First World War began, Robert Marley enlisted in the 18th Battalion (The Pals) Durham Light Infantry and on 8 May 1917, he was killed in action near Gavrelle, during the Battle of Arras. His body was never recovered from the battlefield but his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France.
Civil Parish: Sunderland
Birth date: 1886
Death date: 8-May-1917
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 10 Back Farrington Road, Bishop’s Wearmouth (1891 Census)
10 Vine Street, Sunderland (1901 Census)
1 Silver Street, Deptford (1903 British Army Service Records)
Employment: Rivet Heater (1901 Census)
Driver (1903 British Army Service Records)
Family: Father: Henry Marley
Mother: Ellen Marley (nee Miller)
Siblings: Henry, John, Mary A & Jane Marley
Wife: Alice (nee Mulley)
Children: Jemima, Harry, Mary Ann & Ezra L Marley. Ezra dies in infancy shortly after he was born.
Military service:
6097 Private, 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Reginmental no.: 6097
18th Battalion (The Pals) Durham Light Infantry
Regimental no.:25815
Private
Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal.
Memorial(s): Arras Memorial, Bay 8
Durham Cathedral DLI Book of Remembrance
Holy Trinity Church, Sunderland – 1914-1918 Book of Remembrance (now in Donnison School Heritage & Education Centre)
Gender: Male
Contributed by John Edwards
