Ernest Marsh was born in 1892 at Burley-in-Wharfedale, the son of Catherine Ellen Marsh. The 1911 Census records Ernest as an 18-year-old employed as a groom, and living at Sicklinghall with his mother, his uncle William Marsh and his widowed grandmother Ann Marsh.
Ernest most likely attested to serve towards the end of 1915 and was called-up either in late-February or early-March 1916 when he joined the Army Service Corps (Mechanical Transport). He was on attachment to 174th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (XVIII Corps Heavy Artillery) north of Ypres when he was killed in action on 11th July 1917.
Ernest Marsh is buried in Poperinghe New Military Cemetery. The inscription on his headstone, chosen by his mother reads SWEET JESUS, HAVE MERCY ON HIS SOUL, R.I.P.