Mark Baber
RIP
The New York Times, 29 May 1930
CAPTAIN MARSHALL OF MAJESTIC DIES
---
Commodore of White Star Fleet Succumbs In Southampton as His Ship Leaves
---
BEGAN ON SAILING VESSEL
---
Had Commanded All of Important Liners of His Company---Aide-de-Camp to
King
---
Wireless to THE NEW YORK TIMES
---
LONDON, May 28---Almost simultaneously with the sailing of the Majestic
from Southampton for New York today, Captain William Marshall, commodore
of the White Star fleet, who had been the Majestic's commander since
1928, died at his home in the Channel port at the age of 57 years.
Since he had been appointed commodore in January, Captain Marshall had
made only two trips across the Atlantic, owing to illness.
Widely known to transatlantic travelers, he had commanded all of the
important White Star liners, including the Teutonic, Megantic, Cedric
and Olympic. He held the unique distinction of having served in White
Star sailing ships as an apprentice. Four years ago he was made aide de
camp to the King.
**********
Seemed Well a Week Ago
The news of Commodore Marshall's death came as a shock to Captain E. R.
White, master of the Olympic, and his officers, as they had seen him
driving his car in Southampton just before sailing a week ago.
"I talked with the commodore," said Captain White, "and had never seen
him look better. He told me he expected to go back to the Majestic on
June 18."
In answer to a cable from a friend in New York inquiring about his
health, Commodore Marshall recently wired: "Much appreciate your cable.
All going well." He was feeling poorly on his last homeward trip, two
months ago.
The flags on the Olympic and the Baltic were lowered to half-mast, and
also on the Panama-Pacific liner California, the Atlantic Transport
liner Minnekahda and the White Star piers.
An Excellent War Record
The commodore had an excellent war record. The Distinguished Service
Order was conferred on him in July, 1916, for his services in the
Auxiliary Patrol, which were of a dangerous nature.
In June, 1917, he was promoted to acting captain in the Royal Naval
Reserve, and three years later a bar was added to his D. S. O.
After hostilities ceased, he had command of the Teutonic and later the
Megantic, Cedric, Vedic, Arabic, Cretic and Celtic. He was master of the
Olympic from 1925 until October, 1928, when he was appointed to the
Majestic.
Commodore in Naval Reserve
When in 1926 he became aide de camp to King George, he was also promoted
to the rank of commodore in the Royal Naval Reserve on the active list,
being the first to receive that appointment. On April 10, 1928, he went
on the retired list after reaching 55.
Commodore Marshall was born on April 10, 1873, at Bolton, England. He
served his apprenticeship in the White Star sailing vessels after being
in the cadet ship Conway for two years. After being third and second
mates of the clipper Copley, be obtained his extra certificate as a
master and entered the company's steamship service as fourth officer of
the Cevic, which finally became his first command.
He would have received knighthood from the King in the next naval list
of honors.
Commodore Marshall is survived by a widow and three sons, one of whom is
in the merchant marine service.
-30-
CAPTAIN MARSHALL OF MAJESTIC DIES
---
Commodore of White Star Fleet Succumbs In Southampton as His Ship Leaves
---
BEGAN ON SAILING VESSEL
---
Had Commanded All of Important Liners of His Company---Aide-de-Camp to
King
---
Wireless to THE NEW YORK TIMES
---
LONDON, May 28---Almost simultaneously with the sailing of the Majestic
from Southampton for New York today, Captain William Marshall, commodore
of the White Star fleet, who had been the Majestic's commander since
1928, died at his home in the Channel port at the age of 57 years.
Since he had been appointed commodore in January, Captain Marshall had
made only two trips across the Atlantic, owing to illness.
Widely known to transatlantic travelers, he had commanded all of the
important White Star liners, including the Teutonic, Megantic, Cedric
and Olympic. He held the unique distinction of having served in White
Star sailing ships as an apprentice. Four years ago he was made aide de
camp to the King.
**********
Seemed Well a Week Ago
The news of Commodore Marshall's death came as a shock to Captain E. R.
White, master of the Olympic, and his officers, as they had seen him
driving his car in Southampton just before sailing a week ago.
"I talked with the commodore," said Captain White, "and had never seen
him look better. He told me he expected to go back to the Majestic on
June 18."
In answer to a cable from a friend in New York inquiring about his
health, Commodore Marshall recently wired: "Much appreciate your cable.
All going well." He was feeling poorly on his last homeward trip, two
months ago.
The flags on the Olympic and the Baltic were lowered to half-mast, and
also on the Panama-Pacific liner California, the Atlantic Transport
liner Minnekahda and the White Star piers.
An Excellent War Record
The commodore had an excellent war record. The Distinguished Service
Order was conferred on him in July, 1916, for his services in the
Auxiliary Patrol, which were of a dangerous nature.
In June, 1917, he was promoted to acting captain in the Royal Naval
Reserve, and three years later a bar was added to his D. S. O.
After hostilities ceased, he had command of the Teutonic and later the
Megantic, Cedric, Vedic, Arabic, Cretic and Celtic. He was master of the
Olympic from 1925 until October, 1928, when he was appointed to the
Majestic.
Commodore in Naval Reserve
When in 1926 he became aide de camp to King George, he was also promoted
to the rank of commodore in the Royal Naval Reserve on the active list,
being the first to receive that appointment. On April 10, 1928, he went
on the retired list after reaching 55.
Commodore Marshall was born on April 10, 1873, at Bolton, England. He
served his apprenticeship in the White Star sailing vessels after being
in the cadet ship Conway for two years. After being third and second
mates of the clipper Copley, be obtained his extra certificate as a
master and entered the company's steamship service as fourth officer of
the Cevic, which finally became his first command.
He would have received knighthood from the King in the next naval list
of honors.
Commodore Marshall is survived by a widow and three sons, one of whom is
in the merchant marine service.
-30-
