Mary Alice Marsh was born on 19th June 1885 in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire, the eldest daughter of Albert and Hannah Marsh. From humble beginnings in a mining family, Mary grew up with a strong sense of duty and compassion — traits that would define her short but extraordinary life. By her twenties, she had joined the St John Ambulance Brigade, serving with the Tyldesley Nursing Division, where her dedication quickly stood out. Over five years of voluntary service, she became known as one o