Was born at 9, Chapel Square, Worsborough Common, on the 3rd April, 1888, to Ellen Day and Robert Marsden, he had two older brothers Ernest and Robert and four younger sisters Martha, Edith, Lily and Jane, he and Florence Allott married on Christmas day 1910, they lived at 152, Milton Road, Milton and had a son Herbert.

His brother Robert Marsden, was born in Hunslet, Leeds on the 12th August 1882, he enlisted in December 1915, in the Yorkshire Regiment, in Bradford and then transferred into the 1st Bn. Royal Irish Rifles, he probably trained at Hursley Park, Hampshire, before joining the regiment in France where he was killed in action on the 25th April, 1917 while serving on the Western Front.

On the 16th September, 1916, Joseph was shipped home wounded on the Stad Antwerpen, he returned to duty on the 3rd October, 1916, and was killed in action on the 11th April, 1918, during the Lys Offensive, while acting Company Serjeant Major and serving on the Western Front.

From the book "Barnsley Pals" by Jon Cooksey,
Joseph Marsden's name appears on the nominal roll of the 14th Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment, like many other Miners in March 1915 he joined the "Barnsley Pals" and trained at camps in Silkstone, Penkridge Bank at Rugeley, Ripon and Hurdcott on Salisbury Plain,

Joseph Marsden,

Penkridge Bank
training camp near Rugeley.

Spring 1915,

Back of picture reads,

With Best Love to Wife
from Joe

x x x x x x x

On Boxing day 1915 the Barnsley 13th and 14th Battalions left Hurdcott to board H.M.T. Andania on the 29th December, 1915, and eventually arrived in Port Said in January, 1916, they went on to El Ferdan to build defensive trenches along the western bank of the Suez Canal at Abu Aruk.

On the 8th March, 1916, they marched from Kantara to embark on the 10th March, aboard H.M.T. Briton and H.M.T. Megantic to arrive at Marseilles on St. Patrick's day 17th March, 1916, where they boarded cattle cars for a 50 hour journey north, to arrive in Pont Remy on the 19th March, 1916, and service on the Western Front.

The book also describes many first hand experiences of the "Barnsley Pals", their journey and the actions they were involved in from training through to their eventual return to Barnsley and the marching of the Battalions colours into Saint. Mary's Church on the 29th May, 1919.

Newspaper remembrance,

MARSDEN - In affectionate remembrance of
Acting C.S.M. Joseph Marsden, Y and L Regt.
the beloved husband of Florence Marsden,
who was killed in action, April 11th 1918, aged 30.

Not dead to those who loved him,
Not lost but gone before,
He lives with us in memory still,
And will for ever more.

Embroidered "silks" were popular mementos sent home to loved ones from France during World War I
my Grandfather Joseph Marsden sent these home to his family at that time,

Genesis 31;49,

And [it was called] Mizpah,
because he said,
"May the Lord watch between
you and me, when we are out of
sight of each other"

Back of card reads,

Dear Son
I send this card with kind
regard and love and kisses
from Daddy

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Memorial prayer book silk,

in
Loving Memory
of

Sergt. Joseph Marsden
York and Lancaster's

The beloved Husband of
Florence Marsden.

Who was killed in France
April, 11th. 1918.
Aged 30 Years

A light from our household is gone,
A voice which was loved is still,
A place is vacant in our home,
Which never can be filled.

No one knows how much we miss him,
Some may think the wound is healed,
Yet they little know the sorrow,
Deep within our hearts concealed.

Friends may think that we forget him,
When at times were apt to smile,
little knowing what grief is hidden,
Beneath the surface all the while.

Dearly loved and sadly missed by
his sorrowing Wife and Son.

152 Milton Road
Hoyland

Joseph Marsden's grave,

Outtersteene Communal Cemetery

Extension, Bailleul, Nord, France.

Robert Marsden's grave,

Gouzeaucourt New British

Cemetery, Nord, France.