Marshall: Man of mystery
...Marshall continued his trip, crossing crocodile-infested streams and living off the land

By Bob Piper (Military Aviation Research Services)
Volume 48, No. 3, March 9, 2006

Ken Marshall at the time of his Army enlistment.

A No. 21SQN RAAF Liberator, similar to the one in which SGT Ken Marshall lost his life over Timor in May 1945.

Photos courtesy Bob Piper

KENNETH Murray Marshall was a highly decorated World War I veteran but in World War II he became a RAAF and Darwin legend for his training of Spitfire pilots in bush survival.

Marshall’s death, shot down while serving with “Z” Special Unit aboard a RAAF Liberator bomber at the very end of World War II, still leaves many unanswered questions, despite extensive research and enquiries in both Britain and Australia.

He remains a wartime enigma and man of mystery, even today, 60 years after his death.

The earliest known record of Marshall states that he was born on April 6, 1898 in Leeds, Britain.

In World War I Marshall served with the British Army, rising through the ranks and winning a collection of awards, including the Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, Military Medal, as well as the Croix de Guerre and MID (mention in despatches).

Between wars, Marshall is reputed to have been involved in mineral exploration and geological surveying throughout South-East Asia.

It was here that he studied the art of jungle survival, becaming an expert at living off the land and communicating with local people.

Ken Marshall’s name next appears in history as an Army captain at the start of World War II. Some say he served in Singapore and escaped.

Others state he was sighted at Broome in 1942 as the “Town Major” and that when General Gordon Bennett passed through the area he told him “I’ve seen better things crawl out of a hole in cheese”.

Not content with this dramatic exit, Marshall re-enlisted as a private at Wayville in South Australia.

Recognised for his obvious experience in both the Army and bush around Darwin, Marshall was quickly inducted as one of “Curtin’s Cowboys” and joined the North Australia Observation Corps. This unit patrolled and observed some of the most remote areas of Australia’s northern perimeter.

Within two months Marshall was promoted to sergeant. Despite his experience and skills Marshall was constantly picked up by the military police for his scruffy uniform and casual attitude to Army discipline.

Just as quickly he was released, when his World War I achievements became known.

One classic reconnaissance attributed to SGT Marshall was in late 1943, when he was searching for a missing RAAF aircraft and surveying for emergency landing strips. On his first night out from Millingimbi he was deserted by his native guides, who decamped with his provisions, leaving him with only his clothing, revolver and ammunition, compass, maps and razor blade.

Instead of returning to base, Marshall continued his trip, crossing crocodile infested streams and living off the land. Finding the aircraft, and others, it took him 10 days to reach Oenpelli Station through barren and unfriendly country.

Ken Marshall was quickly recommended for a commission in both the RAAF and the Army. But he refused both, as he recorded on September 17, 1944 “…through fear of being transferred from the AIF (Australian Infantry Forces) and hoping to see active service”.

During various periods, from March 1944, SGT Marshall took 15 crews from No. 2SQN (Hudson bombers) out for survival training near Darwin. However, the task was interrupted by the loss of FLGOFF Brockhurst and his crew in one of the bombers. Sent to search for them, Marshall was reclaimed by his unit on return.

It is also recorded that SGT Marshall taught Catalina flying boat crews, who ranged far and wide throughout the south-west Pacific, in survival techniques during 1944.

In January 1945, Marshall was transferred to Australia’s legendary “Z” Force. His wish to be part of the action was finally granted. At 47, it is known that he served in at least one top secret overseas operation with this unit, returning after two weeks. This would have meant parachuting behind enemy lines.

However, fate took a hand. While on reconnaissance on May 17, 1945 over Timor, Marshall’s Liberator bomber was shot down and all aboard killed.

Mystery also surrounds this incident. Some say that the aircraft, from the RAAF’s special 200 Flight, was slow and low flying near the high town of Vila General Carmona, when a Japanese anti-aircraft unit, travelling on a nearby road, surprised it with a fusillade of fire. Not a soul survived from the 10 crew and six Z Force members on board.

Today SGT Ken Marshall lies in Ambon (Timor) war cemetery.

He left no wife, family or children. However, he did leave a remarkable legacy of training English and Australian airmen in bush survival in World War II.

In this regard he is considered the father of survival in the Royal Australian Air Force.

 

 

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