RELATIVES of three ‘forgotten’ brothers whose names are not marked on Stalybridge’s war memorial honoured walkers recreating the journey of their desperate mother.
Members of the Marshall family met with representatives of the Manchester Regiment, who trekked in full kit with packs and guns, Pete Edwards of the Royal British Legion carrying the union flag, local historian Kate Booth in her cottage girl outfit and others after hearing about the ‘Marshall’s Walk’ in The Correspondent.
From Stalybridge War Memorial, they walked – complete with hob nailed boots – to the home of Fred, Harry and George Marshall at Carr Cottages in Carrbrook.
Then it was on to Mossley War Memorial, where they are recognised but it does not contain names.
The Marshall’s Walk was part of an effort by the Friends of Stalybridge War Memorial group to get them and about 300 others formally recognised.
Sean Dawson, father of a soldier killed in action in Afghanistan, who was also called Sean, also took part.
And nephew Alan Marshall said it would be a matter of pride to see his relatives on a memorial.
He said: “Seeing them recognised properly would be great. It’s definitely a story that needs it.
“We really didn’t know much of the story. We’d only heard parts of it while we were growing up but we did some research on them.
“And as we did, it really opened my eyes to just what they did for their country.”
Fellow members of the Marshall family, cousins Brian and Douglas Marshall and Audrey Hankey, also attended the memorial to give thanks to the Friends of Stalybridge War Memorial for their efforts.
Jon Marshall, a great nephew, cycled to their graves in Belgium to mark his relatives’ sacrifice.
Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds and Dukinfield/Stalybridge Councillor Dave Sweeton joined the walkers on Sunday, October 10.
However, over the course of the week prior, others recreated the journey of the Marshalls’ mother Ann after they died aged 20 and 25.
However, after she walked to Stalybridge the registrar refused to enter their names in the register as he pointed out that in his opinion their house was just on the other side of the border in Mossley, Lancashire.