The King's Royal Rifle Corps


Lieutenant Percival S Marling VC


At the battle of Tamai in the Sudan on 13th March 1884, Lieut Marling, aged 23, was leading a small party of mounted infantry in a forward position for a reconnaissance. They were attacked by a mass of dervishes during which a private was wounded. Marling emptied his revolver into the charging group of men and helped get the wounded soldier to safety on his horse.

Percival Scrope Marling was born at King's Stanley, Stroud in Gloucestershire on 6th Mar 1861. He was commissioned into the 3rd Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps and served with them in the 1881 Boer War, Egypt and the Sudan, commanding the Mounted Infantry 30 men detachment, but in 1886 he transferred into the cavalry. As a major he commanded a squadron of 18th Hussars in the Boer War of 1899-1902. At an action at Talana Hill Marling clashed over tactics with his inept Commanding Officer, Lt-Col BD Moller. Later he found himself in trouble for burning a Boer Farm.

By 1906 he was Commanding Officer of the 18th Hussars. In the First World War he served with HQ staff, Indian Army Corps in France 1914-15. After his military career he was knighted and appointed High Sheriff of The County of Gloucester in 1928. He died on 29th May 1936 at Stanley Park, Stroud.

Further Reading

Rifleman and Hussar by Sir Percival Marling VC CB (1931)


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