Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : Sergeant

Army Number : 3612 and 241289

Unit : 5th Bn, 2/5th Bn, 1/5th Bn

Biography :

Home town given as Loughborough, Leicestershire. Thomas Marston served in The Leicestershire Regiment in World War One, initially in 2/5th Bn in which he went to Ireland in 1916 to quell the Irish rebellion. Awarded the Military Medal whilst a Corporal in 2/5th Bn during the Battle of Passchendaele near Polygon Wood on 28 .9.1917 (London Gazette 28.01.1918, p.1392: "The attack on the Menin road was being held up, but this N.C.O. turned the gun on the remaining enemy who speedily surrendered on seeing our men again advancing. Thirty prisoners were taken and the position captured with slight loss, due to the action of this N.C.O. He encouraged his men by his cool demeanour and tireless energy in an organisation of the line. After capturing the machine-gun he used it on the enemy and then pushed on, with a few men and captured 39 Germans."). Awarded a Bar to the M.M. as a Sergeant for the attack on Pontruet on 24th September 1918 (L.G. 14.5.1919, p.6007: "When his company was held up by a nest of machine-guns he went forward with two men and succeeded in overcoming the enemy and destroying the machine gun. Afterwards when his company and platoon commanders were knocked out he rallied his men and engaged other enemy machine guns with covering fire and so enabled other companies successfully to enter the village."). Awarded a second Bar to the M.M. the attack on Fresnoy-le-Grand Railway Station on 9th October 1918: (L.G. 23.7.1919, p.9340: "This N.C.O. was platoon sergeant. He led a small party round the flank of the enemy's position in spite of machine gun fire from high ground on the east side of the railway line. Here by bombing the enemy's machine gun position he enabled it to be attacked from the front. During the attack on Riquerval Wood on 11th October 1918, he was in charge of a flank platoon working with the next position. He showed complete indifference to the enemy's machine gun fire, which was exceptionally heavy, and more than once, by his promptness in dealing with the enemy's indifference, enabled the advance to continue. He set the finest possible example throughout."). In the First World War only 129 British soldiers were awarded the MM and two Bars. Died 10.6.1922 as a result of 'war gases'. He was buried at Loughborough Cemetery. On 17.6.2017 in the presence of two granddaughters and a great-grandson a commemorative headstone was erected where he was buried.

For more information visit: http://www.carillontower.org.uk/tigers

Medal card: Victory and British.

Father of RSM Thomas Joseph Marston MBE who served in the Regiment for 29 years.

Place of Birth : Loughborough

Date of Death : 10.6.1922

Place of Death : Loughborough

Period of Service : 1910s-1918

Conflicts : WW1

Places Served : Ireland, France, Flanders