N.G.S. & GOLD R.N.L.I. MEDAL PAIR TO CAPT. DIGBY MARSH, R.N.

Digby Marsh was born in Ireland, the third son of the Reverend Jeremy Marsh, Rector of Rosenallis, Queen's County, and his wife, Rachel, daughter of Colonel Montgomery, who was murdered during the rebellion of 1798. He is a direct descendant of Francis and Narcissus Marsh, Lords Primate of Ireland and Dublin; and also of the celebrated Jeremy Taylor.

Joining the Navy on 10 Jan 1806 as Volunteer 1st Class, aged just 11 years, Marsh's first appointment was aboard the frigate, Minerva, commanded by Sir George Ralph Collier as Midshipman, Master's Mate, assisting in the Bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807. He then served in a boat belonging to the Surveillante at the capture of the French merchant-brig between the batteries of St. Guildas and St. Jacques in Quiberon Bay on 5 Sep 1810, and commanded one of two boats under Lieut. O'Reilly at the capture of a French gun vessel carrying troops to the defence of two valuable prizes against the attacks of an American and French privateer, as to have induced Sir Edward Tucker, at the time in temporary command of the Sdrveiklahte, to present him with a sum of money for the purchase of a sword. He was appointed Acting Lieutenant aboard Surveillante 38 in 1813 in cooperation with the patriots on the north coast of Spain, where he was severely wounded in a breaching battery during the Siege of St. Sebastian in Aug and Sep 1813. On the occasion of the second assault on that place he volunteered to conduct a column of Potuguese infantry over the breach, and he also recrossed it under heavy fire for the purpose of conveying a pencil despatch from the commander of the storming party ordering a reinforcement. For this, his gallantry was noted by the commander of the artillery, Sir Alexander Dixon.

On leaving the Surveillante he became Acting-Lieutenant of the Challenger 18, Capts. Fred. Edw. Harcourt and Henry Forbes; to which vessel confirmed to her by commission dated 24 Dec 1813, Marsh continued attached until Sep 1815 – commanding her boats, during that period, at the destruction of a French squadron and flotilla in the river Gironde, by a fleet under Rear-Admiral Chas. Vinicombe Penrose. He was aboard the same sloop when she brought the Prince of Orange over to this country on the eve of his intended marriage with the Princess Charlotte. Serving aboard Tartar 42 off the coast of Africa from 1818-21, he was once again noted for his leadership and bravery in 'twice preserving life under circumstances of a very trying and hazardous nature, procuring him a strong recommendation to the Admiralty'. On the first occasion, a boat he had entered and had been hastening to lower having broken at one end from her holdings was precipitated into the water, and in his endeavour to save himself lost all the flesh off the inside of his hand. Still aboard Tartar, Lieut. Marsh succeeded in capturing several heavily-armed vessels, and in one instance was nearly killed while in the act of firing a brass 4-pounder which broke from its carriage, struck him on the head, and passing over, severely wounded 2 of his men.

Promoted to Commander on 5 Jan 1822, he received a three year appointment in the Coast Guard in Penzance in June 1833. He was again posted to the Coast Guard from July 1837 to Jan 1842 and received the Gold Medal from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution "In admiration of his intrepidity in putting off in a boat during a dark and stormy night in November 1840 and rescuing the crew of the brigs Offerton and Mary, both of Sunderland, and Schooner Sir John Seale of Dartmouth, in all 22 men and boys, wrecked on the beach between Blarshide and Black Rock, Cornwall. The survivors were saved with ropes and the rescuers plunged into the surf."

Marrying Adelaide Rowley, the youngest daughter of John Rowley Esq., of the island of Tobago, Marsh had five children, including Hans Stephenson St. Vincent Marsh. Promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in Apr 1862, Digby Marsh died on 5 Jan 1863. He is buried at Mill Road Cemetery on 9 Jan and newspapers reported his coffin was 'borne to the grave by six sailors from Woolwich.'

Buy the Crimea Medal of Digby Marsh's son, Lieut. Hans Stephenson St. Vincent Marsh.