William Ambrose Marsden

In the 1911 Census, William was 14 and living with his father Joe, a joiner and builder, and mother Hannah Thompson Marsden at Jesmond Villas, Dore. His sister Lily, aged 22, was living at home, as was Beatrice Ibbotson Marsden who was recorded as working part-time as a student teacher at the school. Joe and Hannah's nephew, George William Dalton aged 25, was living with them and assisting in the business as a joiner.

Next door, at Osborne Villas, lived some of the Farnsworth family: Susan Farnsworth and her son Arthur Fretwell Farnsworth who is noted as an assistant school teacher, and Matilda Frances Farnsworth.

The Dore and Totley Parochial Magazine for March 1917 reported the death of Willie Marsden:

"One of the very sad events of the War has recently occurred in our Village of Dore, in the death of a brave lad of 20 years of age, who gave his life for God and country whilst in training. When the call came that he should join the ranks he obeyed with a brave heart. The strain of drill proved too much for his delicate frame, and he quickly succumbed to an attack of pneumonia."

Willie joined the Royal Field Artillery as a gunner. He died on 13th February 1917 in the 1st Northern General Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne whilst in training there with the RFA.

A gravestone in Dore churchyard commemorates Horace, Beatrice and William A Marsden. Their parents were interred in the same grave: Joe in 1926, when he was 69 and Hannah in 1937, in her 79th year.