The AIF Project

Norman MARSHALL

Regimental number562
Date of birth10 February 1888
Place of birthCallander, Scotland
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationMill manager
AddressPemenria, Avondale Road, Armadale, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation28
Height5' 11"
Weight158 lbs
Next of kinFather, Rev A Marshall, Pemenria, Avondale Road, Armadale, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed in Scotch College Cadets.
Enlistment date17 August 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll12 January 1918
Rank on enlistmentCorporal
Unit name5th Battalion, F Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/22/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A3 Orvieto on 21 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollLieutenant-Colonel
Unit from Nominal Roll56th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Mention in Despatches


Promulgated, 'London Gazette', 5 November 1915; 'Commonwealth Gazette', 27 January 1916. Second MID: 'London Gazette', 28 January 1916; 'Commonwealth Gazette', 6 April 1916; 3rd MID: 'London Gazette (2nd Supplement)', 28 December 1917; 'Commonwealth Gazette', 18 April 1918; 4th MID: 'London Gazette', 31 December 1918; 'Commonwealth Gazette', 23 May 1919; 5th MID: 'London Gazette', 11 July 1919; 'Commonwealth Gazette', 30 October 1919 (description corrected, 'Commonwealth Gazette', 1 April 1920).
Recommendation date: --/04/1915

Mention in Despatches


Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette' No. 31448 (11 July 1919); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 124 (30 October 1919).

Mention in Despatches


Awarded, and gazetted, 'London Gazette', second Supplement, No. 30448 (28 December 1917); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 57 (18 April 1918).

FateReturned to Australia 23 July 1919
Medals

Military Cross


Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 44
Date: 6 April 1916

Distinguished Service Order

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When ordered to fill a gap in the line caused by an enemy attack, he personally led his battalion through a heavy enemy barrage to its position. He rendered valuable service in arranging the assembly positions for two other battalions which were ordered to join in an attack at very short notice and in guiding those battalions under fire to their positions with only two casualties. During the attack, when the troops on the right of the brigade were held up, the flank of the brigade seemed likely to become exposed but by skilful dispositions he succeeded in keeping his flank covered as the advance progressed, and consolidated the position under heav fire. He subsequently led his battalion to the capture of an enemy position of great tactical importance and afterwards captured several enemy concrete posts with a number of prisoners. His fine leadership and gallantry were largely responsible for the success of the operations.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 120
Date: 7 August 1918

Bar to DSO

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer commanded his battalion in a night counter attack on a village, which was completely successful. At an early stage in the advance in the dark the column lost direction, owing partly to the ground being soaked by enemy gas, necessitating a detour, and to sunken roads and corpses, butowing to his personal exertions he got on the move again in the right direction. As soon as the battalion had reached the final objective he supervised its consolidation and then organized an attack on some strong posts on the left of his line, capturing seven machine guns.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 15
Date: 4 February 1919

2nd Bar to Distinguished Service Order

'For conspicuous gallantry in the handling of his battalion. Between 1st and 3rd September, 1918, he captured the greater part of Peronne, after fierce enemy opposition, personally organizing the attack on the ramparts and the mopping up of the town. Through his splendid energy and example to his men the town was held, and three guns and about 600 prisoners captured by his battalion.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 67
Date: 3 June 1919

Discharge date14 February 1920
Family/military connectionsBrother: [6846] Lt Louis Buvelot MARSHALL MC, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, returned to Australia, 9 July 1919.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli), 5 April 1915. Appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the field, 28 April 1915; promoted Lieutenant, 26 May 1915. Special mention for acts of conspicuous gallantry or valuable service in the field, 25 April-5 May 1915. Admitted to 2nd Field Ambulance, 7 November 1915 (septic foot); transferred to 3rd Australian General Hospital, 8 November 1915; to 17th General General Hospital, Alexandria, 27 December 1915; discharged to Overseas Base, 17 January 1916.

Awarded the Military Cross.

Admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital, Heliopolis, 11 March 1916 (abscess, leg); transferred to No 3 Auxiliary Hospital, 23 March 1916; rejoined unit, 10 May 1916.

Transferred to 57th Bn, and taken on strength, 17 March 1916. Promoted Captain to complete establishment, 2 April 1916.

Proceeded from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916. Promoted Major to complete establishment, 1 July 1916.

Marched into Senior Officers' School, Aldershot, England, for course of instruction, 7 January 1917. Completed course, 17 March 1917, and granted leave to 31 March 1917 (14 days). Major W.E. Williams, The Middlesex Regiment, commanding No B3 syndicate, wrote, 5 March 1917: 'Character: A hard working, level headed Australian Officer. Cheerful & capable. Conscientious, & tactful. Man of the world. Good appearance. Capabilities: Quickly picked up the ideas & doctrine of the School. Imparts knowledge well; & applies what he has learnt. Has imagination & initiative. Good drill. Handles men well. Very fair military knowledge. Recommended for command of an Australian Battalion in France.' Commandant, Senior Officers' School, wrote, 17 March 1917: 'This Officer should return to his own Battalion and carry on the duties of 2nd in Command. When he has had time to settle down & put into practice the system he has learnt here he might then be fit to command a Battalion ... He has done well here.'

Proceeded overseas to France, 31 March 1917; rejoined Bn, 8 April 1917.

Transferred to 60th Bn, 10 April 1917. To Paris on leave, 22 July 1917; rejoined Bn from leave, 27 July 1917.

Promoted Lieutenant Colonel, 23 August 1917.

On leave to United Kingdom, 1 September 1917; rejoined Bn from leave, 15 September 1917.

Awarded the Distinguished Service Order.

On leave to United Kingdom, 28 December 1917; rejoined unit from leave, 16 January 1918.

Relinquished command of 60th Bn to command 57th Bn, 1 May 1918.

Awarded Bar to DSO.

Selected to attend 15th Senior Officers Machine Gun course, Grantham, England, 21 June 1918; rejoined unit in the field, 14 July 1918.

Transferred to 56th Bn, 11 October 1918. Attached for duty to 14th Brigade Headquarters, 21 October 1918; rejoined 56th Bn from attachment, 9 November 1918.

Medically Boarded to Administrative Headquarters, 27 January 1919; found fit for General Service, and rejoined unit in the field, 18 February 1919.

Granted Non-Military Employment leave with pay and subsistence, 23 July-23 October 1919: paper manufacturing, Sands & McDougall, Mitre St, London.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Nestor', 1 November 1919; disembarked Melbourne, 15 December 1919; appointment terminated, 14 February 1920.

Medals: Distinguished Service Order & 2 Bars, Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Also served in World War II as QX6290. Enlisted Brisbane, Queensland, 3 July 1940; commanded 2/25th Bn, July-November 1940. Commanded 27th Infantry Brigade, November 1940-27 July 1941. Placed on Retired List with honorary rank of Brigadier, 1 January 1942.

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