Burt-Marshall W M Captain Argyll And Sutherland Highlanders
CAPTAIN W. M. BURT-MARSHALL
2nd BATTALION PRINCESS LOUISE’S (ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS)
WILLIAM MARSHALL BURT-MARSHALL was the youngest son of the late James Burt-Marshall, of Luncarty, Perthshire.
He entered the School in 1901 and left in 1906. He had a distinguished athletic career, being in the XI and XV, and winner of the School Mile. He was equally prominent at Sandhurst, where he captained the 1907 Foot- ball team, and played for the 1908 XI.
In September, 1908, he was gazetted to the 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and joined at Bloemfontein, South Africa. In August, 1914, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders left Scotland for France and joined the 19th Infantry Brigade. From then onwards they were in the thick of all the fighting and were personally complimented by Sir John French on their performance in the Battle of Le Cateau. In September Lieut. Burt-Marshall was given command of “A” Company, which command he held, save for one short period, until he fell.
Captain Clark, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, writing of him said:- “All through the retreat he was strong of heart and untiring in his devotion to duty. All the way back towards Paris, and right up again to the Aisne, he was with his men, encouraging and influencing them.
“On November 8th a special duty in Ploegsteert Wood was detailed to us. The capture of an advanced German trench, which had proved a veritable thorn in the British side, was imperative, and the 93rd were asked to do what others had already tried to do and failed. All through the 9th the Battalion lay in the wood, shelled at intervals. “The attack was ordered for that night. Three companies were to advance from different points against the enemy’s trench, and while our guns were paving the way for the assault we silently moved to our allotted positions. When the shelling stopped the attack crept closer, but the German flare lights showed up our line and we rose and dashed for the trench. He was at the head of his men and led the charge right up to the German barbed wire, was hit and fell, but rose again and dashed on to the parapet of the trench, where he fell again. No one could get up to him, and those who were able crawled back to re-form with the remnants of the Companies.” He was at first reported missing, but he died of his wounds in a German Field Hospital at Quesnoy, on November 17th, 1914. Age 27.
A brother Officer wrote of him :- “Beloved by his men, a true and fearless soldier, we are proud of him. He has fallen a hero, and our memories of him are great. “
And his Commanding Officer wrote:-“To my great sorrow I hear there is no more hope of him. He is a great loss to the Regiment, where everyone liked him, and he was a good soldier.”
Source : Memorials Of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War Vol 1