Samuel Marsh

Salonika (Lambet Road) Military Cemetery, Greece.

Samuel Marsh

Private No. M2/203330

820th Mechanical Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps.

Died of Malaria in Greece 21 March 1918. Age 38.

Buried in Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery, Greece. 1382.

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Born in Oldham, Lancashire in 1880.

Second son of John and Sarah Marsh.

Married Jessie McMichael of Church Street, Malpas on 26th November 1907.

Father of Robert Henry Marsh.

Samuel was a domestic chauffeur for the local doctor for many years.

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The Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site records Samuel's age when he died as 42. This is seemingly wrong because:

• The record of his marriage on 26/11/1907 indicates his age as 28 suggesting he was born between 26/11/1879 and 25/11/1880.

• His birth was registered in the 4th quarter 1879.

• The 1911 census (taken on 2/4/1911) (where he was head of the household and therefore likely to be providing the information himself indicates an age of 31.

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The December 1917 Malpas Deanery Magazine reported that he was discharged from hospital after malaria. He was recorded as dying from  Blackwater Fever which occurs almost exclusively in patients infected with the malaria parasite.

Note*

Blackwater fever is a rare, severe complication of malaria characterised by massive red blood cell destruction, dark urine, anemia, and potential kidney failure.