G36 THOMAS EDENSOR LAURIE MARSH (1)

G036 THOMAS EDENSOR LAURIE MARSH. Acting Lieutenant Royal Marines Light Infantry on HMS Russell. Born 2 September 1896. Enlisted 22 August 1914 at Royal Marine Depot, Portsmouth Division. He died on admission to Royal Naval Hospital, Bighi, Malta 27 April 1916 aged 19 years of shock and gas poisoning from an explosion on his ship as the result of the sinking of HMS Russell. His effects went to Herbert Elliott Marsh retired fleet surgeon.

At rest in Plot G Grave 36, Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta.

The following extract creditied to Aquilina Kevin -
While manoeuvring outside the harbour, she struck 2 mines laid by German mine laying submarine U-73 (Cdr. Gustav Siess) on the 23-04-1916. U-73 laid 22 mines at about 50m. a part in front of Grand Harbour before proceeding to Cattaro. Before sinking, the RUSSELL floated for 20 minutes before capsizing, her huge hull showing above the water before being engulfed by the waves. 126 sailors died and 625 were saved including the Admiral and the Captain. Mysteriously, several survivors died days later of gas poisoning.