大象传媒

Bob Marley鈥檚 father; Norval Marley was 5鈥�5鈥�, weighed approximately 9 stones and was an unremarkable conscript. He enlisted in Liverpool in 1916 and was sent to Park Hall to train with the Liverpool Scottish. Norval was not a very robust man and at the beginning of September 1916 he reported sick, as a result of strain during military training.

Marley was moved to the 23rd (Works) Battalions The King鈥檚 (Liverpool Regiment). This was where men who were not fit enough to fight were placed. Their work focused on keeping the army going, such as preparing food, laundry and dealing with sewerage.

Marley was discharged in 1919. He had spent the war in England.

As soon as he was released he was off on his travels, eventually ending up back in Jamaica. He鈥檇 worked there before as plantation overseer.

When he was about 60 he met and married Cedella Malcolm, who was then only 18. In February 1945 Cedella gave birth to Nesta Robert 鈥淏ob鈥� Marley and the couple separated not long after.

Bob Marley never really got to know his father, who died when he was 10.

Location: Park Hall Camp, Oswestry, Shropshire SY11 4AS
Photograph of Norval Marley (left), courtesy of Chris Marley and Bob Marley with Esther, courtesy of Esther Anderson

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