MUSGROVE, Marshall Thomas
DIVISIONAL UNIT: 1st Canadian Infantry Division
3rd Infantry Brigade
14th Battalion - Royal Montreal
Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO: 797014
RESIDENCE: Gorrie - Ontario
DATE OF BIRTH: January 6, 1898
Gorrie – Howick - Turnberry Townships – County of Huron - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH: April 9, 1917 19 years 3 months
CEMETERY: Nine Elms Military Cemetery – Thelus –
Pas de Calais – France
I A 11
FATHER: Mr. Thomas Musgrove – Gorrie – Ontario
SISTER: Miss Ina Musgrove – Wroxeter - Ontario
Occupation: Farmer Religion: Methodist
Enlistment: December 31, 1915 – Simcoe - Ontario
Enlistment Age: 17 years 11 months
Private Musgrove was on the S.S. Lapland when he left Canada and arrived in Liverpool on Novembewr 11, 1916. One day later he was taken on strength by the 23rd Battalion at Dibgate in Kent. Then at month end he was drafted into the 14th Battalion went into France early in December and joined his unit in the field on December 23, 1916.
Private Musgrove was in the field performing his military duties during an attack west of Thelus when he was struck in the head from enemy machine-gun fire and died immediately.
Right of Battalion front was No. 3 Company who would be the two leading waves and 2 Platoons of No. 1 Company being the third wave.
Left of Battalion front was No. 4 Company who would provide the two leading waves and 2 Platoons of No. 2 Company and this was the 3rd advancing wave. The 2 remaining Platoons of No. 2 Company were mopping up lines. They formed in Old French Trench.
The weather conditions were adverse, with both rain and snow falling and the mud was a great hindrance to rapid movement.
The advance went forward and the enemy resistance on the right was severe from rifle and machine gun fire. Some of their machine guns were eliminated by Mill’s Grenades. The enemy was strongly holding Eisnner Trench but it was overcome with the aid of the Lewis Guns. The enemy defence here was strong with the help of fire coming from the Red Line. The Black Line was taken next with much less resistance. At 7:10 the Red Line was taken with the aid of the artillery.
At 9: 40 am the Battalion withdrew from the Red Line to a position behind the ridge and then two hours later to a position between the Sunken Road and Eisnner Trench.
The enemy machine guns caused very extreme casualties in the ranks and it was during this advance on a cold and miserable day when Private Musgrove fell in battle performing his duties.