Edwin Gordon Marshall, late 2694 Trooper 5th Contingent NZMR and 16043 Sergeant, 16th (NZ) Company, Imperial Camel Corps
NZMR QSA and NZEF Pair - Camel Corps (Wounded)
The superb Queen's South Africa Medal w/4 clasps and British War/Victory Medal pair awarded to Edwin Gordon Marshall, who served in South Africa with the 5th NZ Contingent and with the Camel Corps during the WW1 desert campaign, where he was wounded in 1917.
Edwin Marshall was born 10th November 1876 at Napier, New Zealand. Son of Robert and Mary Jane Marshall (née Mander). Regretably Marshall's Boer War service file does not seem to have survived, so little is known of this period of his service. He was selected as a reserve for the 5th Contingent, embarking in late March 1900. The medal roll indicates he served in the field with D Squadron, 5th NZ Mounted Rifles. He married Isabella Clark in 1904, and by 195, had a family of three children.
Marshall enlisted for service in the NZEF in January 1916, and at the time of attestation was working as a fencer for his brother-in-law in Gisborne. He embarked as a sergeant with the 16th Reinforcements, NZMR and was posted to the 16th (NZ) Company, Imperial Camel Corps (ICC) in October 1916. He had reverted in rank to trooper on arrival in Egypt, but was soon promoted back to sergeant. He served in the field during the campaign in Sinai and on into Palestine. He was wounded during the Third Battle of Gaza, but remained in the field with his unit. He was hospitalized for a period between August and October 1918, but returned to action and was transferred to the 2nd Machine-Gun Squadron on the disbandment of the ICC.
During the Second World War Marshall served with Guards Vital Points, initially as a Coastwatch at Cape Runaway and then on vaious duties around Napier, for which he received the 1939/45 War Medal and New Zealand War Service Medal in 1950 (these are not with the group). Edwin Marshall, veteran of three wars, died at Gisborne on 28th November 1960 and is buried in the services section of Taruheru (Gisborne) Cemetery.
The QSA is correctly impressed 2694 TPR: E. MARSHALL. NEW Z’LAND: M.R. (a style peculiar to the reserves of the 5th Contingent), and the pair are correctly impressed 16043 SJT. E.G. MARSHALL. N.Z.E.F.