John Marriott entered the Norfolk Regiment as a lieutenant in the 1st Battalion in December 1883, and was promoted to captain in the 2nd Battalion in Sep 1890. He went out to South Africa with the 2nd Battalion in 1899-1901 and served in the Orange Free State from Feb to May 1900, including Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Karree Siding, Vet River and Zand River. He was in the Transvaal from May to June 1900, involved in the actions near Johannesburg and Pretoria. He was mentioned in despatches twice and was awarded the DSO.
In October 1901 the battalion was stationed around Rustenburg for nearly 6 months of ‘very strenuous service’. General Kerkewich’s column was heavily attacked by De la Rey at Moedwil and narrowly escaped destruction. The History says that Colonel Borton, CO of the battalion, had a ‘strong detachment, under Captain Marriott, at Magato’s Nek, within a few miles of Moedwil’. The Norfolks reinforced Kerkewich’s column during and after this battle.
In January 1909 Marriott was appointed commanding officer of the 1st Battalion The Norfolk Regiment. In June 1909 the battalion was presented with new Colours by King Edward VII at Buckingham Palace. The King decorated Colonel Marriott with the 4th Class of the Victorian order (MVO). The uniform worn by Lt-Col Marriott in this photo is the scarlet dress tunic with yellow facings. His medals are the MVO, DSO, Queen’s South Africa medal (3 clasps) and the King’s South Africa medal (2 clasps).
1883 Lieutenant 1st Bn Norfolks 5 Dec
1890 Captain 2nd Bn Norfolks 5 Sep
1904 Major 12 Mar
1909 Lieutenant-Colonel 12 Jan
Regimental Details | Commanding Officers
