Percival Marling
Sir Percival Scrope Marling, 3rd Baronet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 6 March 1861 Stanley Park, Selsley |
| Died | 29 May 1936 |
| Buried | All Saints Church Vault, Selsley |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | King's Royal Rifle Corps |
| Commands | 18th Royal Hussars |
| Battles / wars | First Boer War 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War Mahdist War Second Boer War First World War |
| Awards | _ribbon.png){kind=small} Victoria CrossOrder of the Bath |
Colonel Sir Percival Scrope Marling, 3rd Baronet, VC, CB, DL (6 March 1861 – 29 May 1936) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Early life
Marling was born on 6 March 1861, and educated at Harrow School.
Military career
He was 23 years old, and a lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps,[1] British Army, attached Mounted Infantry during the Mahdist War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 13 March 1884 at the Battle of Tamai in the Sudan during the Mahdist War, Lieutenant Marling risked his life to save that of a private of The Royal Sussex Regiment who had been shot. His citation reads:
For his conspicuous bravery at the battle of Tamai, on 13th March last, in risking his life to save that of Private Morley, Royal Sussex Regiment, who, having been shot, was lifted and placed in front of Lieutenant Marling on his horse. He fell off almost immediately, when Lieutenant Marling dismounted, and gave up his horse for the purpose of carrying off Private Morley, the enemy pressing close on to them until they succeeded in carrying him about 80 yards to a place of comparative safety.[2]
Marling later served in the Second Boer War (1899-1901) in South Africa, where in March 1901 he took over the command of the 18th Hussars.[3] He was promoted to Lieutenant-colonel on 19 February 1902.[4] For his service during the war, he was mentioned in despatches (dated 8 April 1902[5]) and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).
On 20 October 1903, he was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Gloucestershire,[6] and in 1923 was appointed High Sheriff of Gloucestershire.[7]
He later achieved the rank of colonel and died on 29 May 1936.
The Medal
His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.[8]
References
- ^ "Lieutenant Percival Scrope Marling". The King's Royal Rifle Corps Association. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
- ^ "No. 25356". The London Gazette. 21 May 1884.
- ^ "The War - appointments". The Times. No. 36396. London. 7 March 1901. p. 11. template uses deprecated parameter(s) (help)
- ^ "No. 27426". The London Gazette. 18 April 1902.
- ^ "No. 27443". The London Gazette. 17 June 1902.
- ^ "No. 27608". The London Gazette. 23 October 1903.
- ^ "No. 32805". The London Gazette. 13 March 1923.
- ^ Stewart, Iain. "Lord Ashcroft VC Collection". victoriacross.org.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
- Location of grave and VC medal (Gloucestershire)
- Use dmy dates from April 2012
- 1861 births
- 1936 deaths
- People from Stroud (district)
- Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst
- Baronets in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom
- King's Royal Rifle Corps officers
- British recipients of the Victoria Cross
- Companions of the Order of the Bath
- Deputy Lieutenants of Gloucestershire
- High Sheriffs of Gloucestershire
- People educated at Harrow School
- British Army personnel of the Mahdist War
- 18th Royal Hussars officers
- British Army personnel of the Second Boer War
- British Army personnel of World War I
- British Army personnel of the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War
- Councillors in Gloucestershire
- British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross
- British military personnel of the First Boer War