WW1 Cecil James Cunningham Marshall (89710)

Cecil James Cunningham Marshall was born in Thames on 5 December 1888.

His grandfather Rev. James Marshall M.A. was a curate at Ellerslie and examining chaplain for the Bishop of Auckland. Then he was appointed to the Parish of Ohaupo, near Cambridge, before returning to live in Upland Rd, Remuera, in 1899. Cecil’s father Leslie Marshall was a teacher and farmer before returning to Wootton Rd Remuera and then 43 Prospect Tce in Mt Eden. [1]

Cecil attended Auckland Grammar School and was a member of the College Rifles, Rugby Union Football and Sports Club. [2]

Cecil was employed as a cadet with the Government Insurance Department in 1906. [3]

In 1912, he married Mildred Marshall Western, a Tasmanian. They had a son, Cecil Guy, born in Hobart, Tasmania on 19 December 1914. They moved to Auckland and at the time of Cecil’s enlistment at 30 years of age, on 14 August 1918, he was working as a Clerk, with the South British Insurance Company.

The Company was established in 1872 as the South British Fire and Marine Insurance Company of New Zealand, it had been incorporated in 1907 and subsequently changed its name to the South British Insurance Company Limited. Over the years, there were changes to the Company’s insurance coverage, and mergers and acquisitions of other insurance companies, it was eventually dissolved in 2000 when it merged with Belves Investments Limited. [4]

Cecil began his army training at Trentham, where he was promoted to probationary Corporal in the 53rd Reinforcements. Shortly after he was admitted to hospital for a week with tonsillitis on 24 October 1918. He was admitted to hospital again suffering from influenza (also noted as cerebrospinal meningitis) and died on 24 November 1918 aged 29. He is buried in Karori Cemetery, Wellington, D. 36. (S). [5]

Cecil is remembered on the Auckland Grammar School War Memorial, Roll of Honour, College Rifles, Rugby Union Football and Sports Club, Remuera, Auckland, and the Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 1 Hall of Memories.

G Ralph
April 2020