Introduction

Leonard William Marsh spent his early life at Hardington Moor. He initially worked as a baker’s assistant before entering the building trade, eventually becoming a bricklayer. Adventurous by nature, he enlisted early in World War I with the Dorset Light Infantry. After the war, he married and moved to Hew Hill. He lived long enough to witness the start of another world war, but sadly passed away in 1940 at a young age.

Life at Hardington

Leonard was born at Hardington on 24 September 1896, the first of four sons born to John and Beatrice Marsh. His father, John, was a general labourer.

As a boy, Leonard was quite adventurous. In October 1909, he fell from a chestnut tree while climbing, resulting in a trip to Yeovil Hospital with a suspected broken arm. Fortunately, doctors determined that he had only broken a blood vessel in his shoulder.[1]

After leaving school, Leonard became a baker’s assistant.

First World War

On 26 July 1914, a man saw Leonard, his brother Arthur, and Albert Hawkins on land occupied by James Saint Partridge, working the gorse and hedges with two dogs. They were summoned to appear before Yeovil magistrates on 2 September 1914 accused of poaching; however, by that time, Leonard had enlisted in the Dorset Light Infantry.[2]

Although he survived the war, the experience probably impacted his physical and mental health. After the war, Leonard found work with a building firm, but was later laid off due to the economic slump of 1920 to 1921. The 1921 census recorded him as an unemployed labourer who previously worked for the building firm Childs of Kingston, Yeovil.

Life at West Coker

In 1922, Leonard married Elsie Withey, of Hew Hill, West Coker. After her mother’s death when Elsie was four, she was raised by her father, William, who was a carpenter and joiner.

Leonard moved into William’s home, where Elsie’s older brother, Sidney, also lived. On 8 September 1923, Elsie gave birth to a son, William Raymond.

In 1936, Leonard inherited one-sixth of any money left by his uncle, Frederick Marsh, for whom he also acted as one of his executors.[3]

In September 1939, Leonard was working as a bricklayer, while his son was training as an aircraft apprentice.

Death

In 1940, Leonard was admitted to Yeovil District Hospital with internal bleeding and a duodenal ulcer. He died there on 29 November 1940, at the age of 44, and was laid to rest at West Coker.[4]

Elsie’s later life

Elsie lived until 1987, passing away at the age of 89. Their son, William Raymond, died on 14 July 1998 at the age of 74.

References

[1] Western Chronicle, 8 October 1909, p.5.

[2] Western Chronicle, 4 September 1914, p.4; 5 February 1915, p.6.

[3] The will of Frederick Marsh, dated 15 August 1934, proved at Bristol on 16 November 1936. His estate was valued at £157 11s 1d.

[4] Death certificate of Leonard William Marsh.