Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Marriott, a railway platelayer, born 1858 in Asfordby, Leicestershire and his wife Naomi Marriott (nee Chester, married in the 1st quarter of 1882 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district), born 1860 in Sileby, Leicestershire. Stephen was born 10th June 1891 in Asfordby, and was baptised on the 5th July 1891 in Asfordby Parish Church, his siblings were, George, an assistant railway porter, born 1886, Emily, born 1888 and Fred, born in the 1st quarter of 1890, all his siblings were born in Asfordby, in March 1901 the family home was at Mill Lane, Asfordby. In April 1911 Stephen was absent from the family home in Asfordby, residing there was his father, a railway platelayer, his mother and sister, Emily, Stephen was employed as a hall boy and was residing as a servant at Staveley Lodge Stables, Nottingham Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. His older brother Fred, fell in action in October 1917.
Stephen attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War.) on the 9th December 1915 in Leicester. He gave his present home address as New Street, Asfordby, Melton Mowbray, his age as 24 years and 179 days and his trade or calling as gardener. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father George Marriott, of New Street, Asfordby, Melton Mowbray, as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4½ inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34 inches. After attestation on the 9/12/15 in Leicester he was transferred as Private, service number 25811 to the Army Reserve. Mobilized on the 1/3/16. Posted to the Leicestershire Regiment Depot on the 1/3/16. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 3/3/16. Embarked from Folkestone to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 21/7/16. Joined the 12th Infantry Brigade Depot on the 22/7/16. Posted to the 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 22/7/16. Posted to the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 2/8/16. Admitted to the 30th Casualty Clearing Station suffering from a bomb injury to his jaw, in the field on the 31/8/16. Returned to duty, in the field on the 16/9/16. Notification from the Prisoner of War Hospital, Meschede, Germany notifying his death at 9.30am on the 12/10/18. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 9/12/15 – 21/7/16, 185 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 22/7/16 – 12/10/18, 2 years 83 days. Total service 2 years and 268 days. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Stephen’s father George Marriott on the 3rd September 1919, and was witnessed and signed by C. Edward Bishop, Clerk in Holy Orders, 4, Richmond Terrace, Evington, Leicester on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) father of soldier, George Marriott of New Street, Asfordby. Mother of soldier, Naomi Marriott of New Street, Asfordby. Full blood brothers of soldier, Charles Edward Marriott, age 34 on 33, Queen Street, Long Eaton. Full blood sisters of soldier, Elizabeth Ann, age 35 of Ratciffe on Wreake. Emily Marriott, age 31 of Oxford. Stephen’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
On Friday May 10th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “ASFORDBY.” – ASFORDBY CASUALTIES. – Mr. and Mrs. Marriott, of New-street, Asfordby, have been officially notified that their son, Pte. Stephen Marriott, of the Leicester’s, was reported missing from March 21st.
On Friday May 31st 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – The following local casualties have been officially reported during the past week:- From Yesterday’s list:- Missing: Leicestershire Regt. – Buxton, 40700 G. (Sileby); Marriott, 25811 S. (Asfordby); Rouse, 38021 H. (Sileby).
On Friday June 14th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS.” – ASFORDBY. – A PRISONER OF WAR. – Mr. and Mrs. Marriott, of New-street, Asfordby, have received an official postcard from their son, Pte. Stephen Marriott, dated April 16th, stating that he is a prisoner of war in Germany and is in good sound health. Pte. Steve Marriott was reported missing on March 22nd, his parents not having heard from him for nearly three months.