Marshall was born in Methley on 17 April 1887, the son of railway signalman Harry William Troth and his wife Clara Ann, nee King. On 4 December 1914, the Shipley Times & Express reported: “Marshall Troth of Greengates, who joined Lord Kitchener’s Army on August 29th, has been promoted to the rank of bombardier. “Troth is in the 217th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, which is at present on Salisbury Plain. “In a letter which has been received from him he states that the men are in strict training for the front. “There are over 100,000 English soldiers on Salisbury Plain. Lord Kitchener has visited the men twice

and was evidently satisfied with what he saw. “The King, Queen and Princess Mary were awarded a fine reception on their visit. “Bombardier Troth was formerly employed in the Shirecoats Colliery, Clowne, near Chesterfield.” Marshall was obviously making a good impression because the following week, the newspaper reported that he had now been made a corporal. There is then a long gap when we have little information apart from the fact that Marshall spent some

time in Egypt. It was clearly an interesting time for Marshall, because by the time we get the next information, on 4 December 1918, the newspaper reported that “Sgt Marshall Troth, D.C.M. who looks fit and well, is home on leave from the Front. “Previous to going to France, Sgt Troth saw service at the Dardanelles.” Tantalisingly, there is no report of the action for which Marshall was rewarded with his medal. On 31 May 1918 there was news of yet another promotion:

“Quartermaster Sgt Marshall Troth, D.C.M., R.F.A., has been promoted Sgt Major. “Only son of Mr and Mrs H Troth of 8 Stanley Terrace, Greengates, he enlisted in August 1914 and has been in heavy fighting on more than one front.” After the war, Marshall returned to Clowne to marry Elsie Douggan and on the marriage certificate he is given as a signalman. The couple had five children, Wallace, Dennis, Jack, Matt and Roy and at the time of the 1939 survey were living at 23 Carbottom Road, Greengates and it appears Elsie’s father was living with them. Marshall died in 1981.