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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 701

'It is with deepest regret that I have to tell of bad news respecting Corporal, or rather, Sergeant, Marlowe.

He was in the attack on September 1st and was hit while taking his gun into action. He refused to go back, although unable to keep up with his men. He followed them as best he could by himself. His men, of course, had to go on, and the next they knew was when some returned next morning, and found him dead, dear fellow.

It is heartrending, but it was a 'noble' ending to a splendid life. Few men would have carried on as he did, after being hit.

One hates to think of his passing alone, and yet I know he was not alone, as he had found and loved the Friend who never changes, whose love can never die, and who is with us always.

Please accept my heartfelt sympathy, and will you let his parents share this, as I have not got their address … I mentioned the circumstances of his death to the Commanding Officer.'

A letter from the Rev. Arthur Buxton, Padre to the 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade - addressed to Clarice Anderson, the fiancée of Sergeant Marlowe - refers.

A poignant and well-documented Great War campaign group awarded to three awarded to Lance-Sergeant J. H. Marlowe, Rifle Brigade, who was killed in action on the Somme in September 1916

A much-loved valet and butler, his last employer - Gertrude Drabble of Brockhurst Hall - wrote to his mother: 'A better servant we never had - the children were so upset when they heard the news. He was so willing, nothing a trouble to him and we hoped he would return to us when the war ended … '

1914-15 Star (Z-1461 Pte. J. H. Marlowe, Rif. Brig.); British War and Victory Medals (Z-1461 Cpl. J. H. Marlowe, Rif. Brig.), in their card boxes of issue with related Record Office, Winchester forwarding letters, together with the recipient's Memorial Plaque 1914-18 (John Harris Marlowe) and his Rifle Brigade cap badge, extremely fine (5)

John Harris Marlowe was born at Wooton St. Lawrence, Hampshire, about 1883, the son of Charles and Sarah Jane Marlowe (nee Izzard); his father, a railway worker, was killed in an accident near Basingstoke.

Footman, valet and butler

Young John - or Harris as he preferred to be called - entered domestic service on departing school and was originally employed by Lady Florence Delamere (1878-1914) at Heyesmere, Cheshire; she was the daughter of Lowry Edward Cole, 4th Earl of Enniskillen and the first wife of Hugh Cholmondeley, 3rd Baron Delamere (1870-1931).

He subsequently became first footman to William Henry Verdin at Darnhall Hall, Winsford.

His employer - who was from a prominent Cheshire family - gifted the Verdin Baths to Winsford to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887, in addition to the Albert Infirmary, which was housed at the former family home Highfield House; he was a Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Cheshire and was appointed High Sheriff in 1897.

About 18 months before the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Marlowe became valet and butler to Mrs. Gertrude Drabble at nearby Brockhurst, Northwich; he was engaged to Miss Clarice Anderson in the same period.

Soldier

Marlowe enlisted in the Rifle Brigade in early September 1914 and first went to France in February 1915; he was badly injured at the battle of Hill 60, when he fell into 'Jack Johnson' hole. Having been evacuated home, he returned to active service in September 1915.

A glimpse of the high esteem in which he was held may be found in the following letter written by the Rev. Arthur Buxton, a letter received by his fiancée in July 1916:

'I hope you will excuse a stranger writing to you, but it is by special request. I have heard of you and seen your photograph, which, needless to say, is very greatly valued by its owner. I have seen a good deal of Corporal Marlow and hope to see a lot more, because it does one good to know him. He is greatly respected in the Battalion both as a good soldier and all-round man. I am thankful he came safely through a very hot bombardment lately. We had a thanksgiving prayer together a few days later for God's gracious protection. God grant he may come safely through this terrible war and may the wedding bells soon be ringing. I congratulate you most heartily on winning the love of such a man, and I am sure I may also congratulate him.'

As stated, Marlowe was killed in action near Delville Wood on the Somme on 1 September 1916, just a few weeks after being promoted to Lance-Sergeant in the 3rd Battalion. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, in addition to the war memorial - and a plaque in the church - at Wooton St. Lawrence, Hampshire.

Sold with the following original documentation and photographs:

(i)
Four postcards sent by the recipient to his mother in the period October 1914-January 1915, signed with his second given name, 'Harris'; and a silk 'Thinking of You' card sent 'from the trenches'.

(ii)
Five Great War period photographs, including studio-quality portraits as butler and soldier, mounted on card; two smaller images, including full-length portrait, in uniform, and a picture of a staff car, with the recipient marked as a passenger.

(iii)
Rifle Records notification of where the recipient fell in action, dated 24 January 1917.

(iv)
The above quoted letter from the recipient's former employer, Gertrude Drabble, dated 20 September 1916, at her London residence, 75 Grosvenor Street, Mayfair; together with an old typescript of the above quoted letter from the Rev. Arthur Buxton, 6 September 1916.

(v)
A printed 'In Memoriam' card and three wartime newspaper obituary notices.


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Sold for
£380