Marquis, Company Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class II, Robert Oliver

Service highlights

  • Service number: A11025
  • Rank: Company Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class II
  • Born: 23 January 1918 in St. Marys
  • Civilian life: Tinsmith at Maxwell’s
  • Pre war service: Militiaman with D (St. Marys) Company, The Perth Regiment
  • Enlisted for overseas service: 5 September 1939 at Stratford
  • Promotions:
    • Corporal, 1 October 1939
    • Sergeant, 16 March 1940
    • Company Sergeant Major (WO Class II), 17 October 1943
  • Marriage: 14 June 1941 to Ada Evelyn Skerrett while the regiment was quartered in Hamilton
  • Child: One son, Robert, born 26 March 1942
  • Overseas: Sailed to England with the regiment in October 1941, later went to Italy with the battalion on 26 October 1943
  • Wounded: 28 September 1944, booby trap incident during operations near the Fiumicino River
  • Died of wounds: 30 September 1944 at 22 Light Field Ambulance
  • Burial: Gradara War Cemetery
  • Commemorated: St. Marys Town Hall World War II plaque, and named on his parents’ gravestone in Section M of St. Marys Cemetery

A Life and Service Remembered

Robert Oliver Marquis was born in St. Marys on 23 January 1918. Before the war, he worked as a tinsmith at Maxwell’s and was already involved in the local militia through D Company of the Perth Regiment. He was the kind of person who did not wait to be asked, he was already showing up.

He enlisted for overseas service on 5 September 1939. Starting as a private, he rose steadily through the ranks, corporal within weeks, sergeant by March 1940, and by October 1943 he had become company sergeant major. Those promotions usually come with the trust of the people around you, the quiet work of keeping others steady, and the responsibility of being the person the company leans on when things get hard.

During the period the regiment was quartered at Standard Barracks in Hamilton, Bob met Ada Evelyn Skerrett. They married on 14 June 1941. A few months later he sailed to England with the regiment, and their son Robert was born on 26 March 1942, five months after Bob left for overseas service. The timing says a lot, he became a father while he was already far from home, doing his part in a war that was only growing larger.

After two years in England, the Perth Regiment went to Italy in October 1943. Bob served with the unit through the later fighting in Italy as the company sergeant major of A Company.

In late September 1944, the battalion moved forward toward the Fiumicino River with the idea of mounting an assault crossing. Heavy autumn rains turned the stream into a raging torrent and the men were forced to dig in. Booby traps were common, and A Company suffered a devastating explosion that cost many lives. In the early evening of 28 September, Bob, or someone near him, tripped such a booby trap. He was severely wounded in both legs. With roads impassable in the rain that night, evacuation was painfully delayed. He reached 22 Light Field Ambulance the next morning but died of his wounds in the early morning hours at 6:30 a.m. on 30 September 1944.

Bob was buried at Gradara War Cemetery in Italy. His headstone carries a short epitaph from his wife that includes the words, “Peaceful be thy rest, dear Bob.” He was survived by Ada and their young son Robert, and by his father John Marquis of St. Marys. He was also survived by seven brothers and sisters, John, Thomas, Alfred, Joe, Ethel, Margaret, and Evelyn. He was predeceased by his mother, Margaret Penny Marquis, who died in 1938. Among his personal effects returned to his family was a photo of his wife, showing a very personal memento of the life he had hoped to return to one day. Back home he would be remembered by those that loved him on the St. Marys Town Hall World War II plaque.

Major battles and operations

  • Home service and early training (1939 to 1941): Rapid promotion through the Perth Regiment during the first years of the war
  • England (17 October 1941 to 26 October 1943): Two years of training and preparation with the battalion
  • Italy (from 26 October 1943): Served throughout later fighting in Italy as company sergeant major of A Company
  • Fiumicino River operations (27 to 28 September 1944): Planned assault crossing disrupted by severe rains, heavy mining and booby traps in forward positions
  • Wounding and death (28 to 30 September 1944): Severely wounded by a booby trap, evacuation delayed by weather and conditions, died at 22 Light Field Ambulance

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