Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Henry Marston an agricultural labourer, born 1857 in Hickling, Nottinghamshire and his wife Frances Marston (nee Cooke, married in the 1st quarter of 1880 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district), born 29th May 1854 in Long Clawson, Leicestershire, and baptised on the 25th June 1884 in the Parish Church, Long Clawson. Charles Henry was born in the 3rd quarter of 1886 in Holwell, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Rosa, a schoolgirl, born 17th February 1880 in Nottinghamshire, Elizabeth Ellen, a schoolgirl, born in the 4th quarter of 1883 in Leicestershire and Elsie, born 1891, in Barton in Fabis, Basford, Nottinghamshire, in April 1891 the family home was at Barton in Fabis, Basford. In March 1901 Charles was residing in Melton Road, Scalford, Leicestershire, this being the family home of his maternal Grandparents, Joseph Cooke, a grazier, born 1823 in Long Clawson and his wife Ann Cooke, born 1825 in Scalford, also residing in the family home was his father, an agricultural labourer, his mother and sister, Elsie. In April 1911 Charles was employed as a hedge cutter and was residing in the family home at Scalford, together with his father, a grazier and his mother.
Charles first enlisted into the Durham Light Infantry, and saw service in France, he was invalided home in the latter part of 1917 and was subsequently transferred to the 482nd Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps and allotted the service number 495914, this was subsequently changed to 209269. Sadly, Charles while on leave during December of the same year took his own life.
Charles enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 21st March 1916 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 4576. He gave his age as 29 years 180 days. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as farm labourer. He gave his present address as Scalford, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.
His medical examination recorded his apparent age as 29 years 180 days, that he was 5-feet 7¼ inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 34 and 36 inches.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Henry Marston, Scalford, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Posted. To 2/8th Bn. Durham Light Infantry. Pte. 21/3/16.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
On Friday August 24th 1917, The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS” – SCALFORD. HOME ON LEAVE. - During the past week Private’s A. Pritchett and C. Marston have been home on leave, the former from the front and the latter on sick leave, he having been in hospital for some time after being seriously ill in France.
On Friday January 4th 1918, The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “SAD AFFAIR AT SCALFORD.” – TRAGIC DEATH OF A SOLDIER. – Scalford was the scene of a sad tragedy on Saturday afternoon, Charles Henry Marston No. 202969, of the 5th Battalion Durham Regiment, taking his own life whilst of unsound mind. It appears deceased had been very depressed since being gassed in France some time ago. Since his recovery he had been stationed at Hornsea, and was recently ordered to undertake farm work. On December 23rd he arrived at the house of his father, Mr. Harry Marston, farmer, Scalford, and spent Christmas there. He was left in the house on Saturday afternoon, and when his father went back after working in the yard for some time, he was horrified to discover his son lying dead on the kitchen floor, with a double barrel gun between his legs. Deceased was 31 years of age. The circumstances were inquired into by Mr. A. H. Marsh, district coroner at the schoolroom, Scalford, on Monday afternoon, the Rev. H. T. Mogridge being foreman of the jury. Harry Marston, farmer, Scalford, said deceased was his son, and his age was 31 last August. He was in the army, and belonged to the Durham Regiment. He had been in France, and was gassed. Ever since then he had been depressed. Deceased was stationed at Hornsea. On Sunday, the 23rd inst. he came home and said he was going to work on a farm. During the time he was at home he had very little to say, and seemed very much depressed. About half past one on Saturday afternoon witness went into the yard to do some work, and his wife having gone to Nottingham market deceased was left in the house by himself. About 3.45 witness opened the kitchen door to go in and then saw deceased lying on the floor. He went out and called Tom Musson, who was at work in the blacksmith’s shop. The gun was deceased’s own; he did not know there were any cartridges in the house. Thomas James Musson, blacksmith, Scalford, deposed that about 3.45 pm on Saturday Mr. Marston called him and said “I believe Charley has done something to himself.” He at once went across the yard to Marston’s house, and there found deceased lying on the kitchen floor. He had no jacket or waistcoat on, and there was a double barrel gun between his legs. There was a pool of blood, and the top of his head was blown off. An empty cartridge was in the right barrel. P.C. Lapworth, Waltham, stated that about 5.15pm on Saturday he received information that Marston had committed suicide by shooting himself. He at once went over to Scalford, and there found deceased as described by T. J. Musson. On the kitchen table he found the note produced, worded as follows: “It is no use; I cannot settle down to work or anything else. I have nothing against being in the army, for you are treated with every consideration as should be, I would not wish for anything better than to be A1, and back with the Durham’s, for I have the best of father’s and mothers to fight for. My mind has got into a hopeless muddle. Good bye and God bless you all and the Durham’s.” Witness searched the body, and there was only an old pencil in his trousers pocket. He had received an inquiry from the Military authorities with reference to deceased being an absentee whilst being on farm furlough. Dr. James A. Smyth, Melton Mowbray, said he was called to see deceased on Saturday. He found that practically to whole of the vault of the skull had been blown away, and there were marks of powder on the right temple. The injuries were the result of gunshot wounds, and the gun must have been close to or touching the deceased’s head when fired. In his opinion the gun was probably fired by deceased with his left foot. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased committed suicide by shooting himself whilst of unsound mind.