Quartermaster Lieutenant-Colonel William Thomas Marshall V.C.

William Marshall was Initiated into Bulwer Lodge of Cairo on 18th July 1885, Passed on 29th August and Raised on 19th Sep tember the same year. His address was just shown as “Cairo” and his occupation as “Solicitor”.

He was born at Newark, Nottinghamshire, on 5th December 1854 and, following a private education, he joined the 19th Hussars, at the time The Prince of Wales’ Own, on 20th July 1873. He served in the Egyptian War in 1882 and fought at the battle of Tel-el-Kebir on 13th September1882 and received the Egyptian Medal with clasp, plus the Khedive’s Star.

Following the lull in the Egyptian War, the 19th Hussars joined the Sudan Expedition against the Mahdi. Marshall was present at the engagements at El Teb and Tamai, being mentioned in despatches and receiving two more clasps for his medal. For his actions in the Battle of El Teb, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. The London Gazette of 21st May 1884 reports: William Marshall, Quartermaster-Sergeant, 19th Hussars. Date of Act of Bravery 29th February 1884. For his conspicuous bravery during the cavalry charge at El Teb in bringing out Lieutenant-Colonel Barrow, 19th Hussars out of action, that officer, having been severely wounded and his horse killed, was on the ground surrounded by the enemy when Quartermaster Sergeant Marshall, who stayed behind with him, seized his hand and dragged him through the enemy back to the regiment. Had Lieutenant-Colonel Barrow been left behind he must have been killed.

Quartermaster-Sergeant Marshall was Commissioned on 20th January1885, the year he became a Freemason. He served in the South African War from 1889 to 1890, taking part in operations in Natal, including the action at Lombard’s Kop, Ladysmith and Laing’s Nek, receiving the Queen’s South Africa Medal with four clasps.