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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Sgt. Percival John Martin
British Army 20th Btn. The London Regiment
from:Blackheath
2nd Lt. Rankin Martin MM.
British Army 176th Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers
from:Kelvingrove, Glasgow
(d.12th July 1918)
Martin Rankins was killed in action on the 12th of July 1918, aged 31 and buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension in France. He was commissioned from the ranks having previously served as a sergeant with the Royal Fusiliers. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Robert and Isabella Martin, husband of Mary Blakely, of 6 Radnor Street, Kelvingrove, Glasgow.
A/Cpl. Richard "Duckser" Martin
British army 6th Btn. Royal Irish Regiment
from:Black Abbey, Kilkenny, Ireland
Richard Martin was wounded at the battle for Guillemont and Ginchy. I don't know if he served to the war's end.
Pte. Richard Martin
British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
Pte. Richard Edward Martin
British Army 2nd Btn. Hampshire Rgt.
(d.18th October 1916)
A/Cpl. Richard "Duckser" Martin
British Army 6th Btn. Royal Irish Regiment
from:Kilkenny
A/Cpl. Richard "Duckser" Martin
British Army 6th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment
from:8 Blackabbey, Kilkenny, Ireland
Richard Martin joined up on the 6th of October 1914 and was wounded in action at Guillemont on the 3rd of November 1916. I don't know if he finished the war or not.
A/Cpl. Richard "Duckser" Martin
British Army 6th Btn. Royal Irish Regiment
from:Black Abbey, Kilkenny, Ireland
My grandfather Richard Martin served with the 6th Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment and was wounded on the 3rd of September 1916 at Guillemont. He fought with Kilkenny men (Sgt. Morrisey, Dan Flood, Kenny). I don't have his medical records or know if he continued on to the end of the war.
Pte. Robert Martin
British Army 14th (Pioneers) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Stanley, Co Durham
(d.2nd July 1916)
I know very little of Robert Martin, only that he had 4 brothers, Francis was killed in Greece, but Edward (my grandad) and Jimmy (unofficially adopted) returned. Photo supplied by my cousin, I researched him and he did not marry.
Pte. Thomas Martin
British Army 14th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
from:314 Springfield Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland
(d.6 May 1916)
This story was given to me by Mark Scott and involves an incident which took place on the night of 5th May 1916 in Hamel, Thievpal Wood and the 'Sunken Road' near Authuile, Somme, France. My great Uncle, Tom Martin, was one of the men killed. He is buried in Authuile Cemetery.
"A few months ago I was handed a diary by a relative which had belonged to my Great Grandfather, Company Serjeant Major James Scott of the 14th Royal Irish Rifles who was killed in action at Messines in January 1917. When I say 'diary' I mean a pre-printed 1916 pocket diary similar to what we would buy today only with a military slant. For instance maps of France, morse code, semaphore diagrams and general 'field craft' aide memoirs. It then had the usual day/date sections to be written in by the owner. James had not filled it in on a daily basis, in fact only six pages had been written on. The first of these pages was headed "Killed on the night of 5th May Authuile Nr. Martinsart." There was then a list of 10 names. The other pages contained surnames and addresses around Belfast.
I decided to investigate what had happened on the night of 5th May on the assumption that these were my Grandfathers' men. The addresses had ticks or crosses added beside them and at first I could not work out why but I now know that James was granted home leave in October/November 1916 and I now believe that he visited these addresses, and those ticked he got to visit, those with crosses he didn't or couldn't before returning to the front and his death a few months later. Looking back down the years, and with not much left to give us the character of the man, It gives me a good feeling to know that for whatever reason he noted down the names in the book with the intention perhaps of visiting the next of kin of his platoon who had fallen. At the end of the day, he didn't have to write anything at all. Unfortunately James couldn't finish the job.
I now know that on the night of 5th May 1916 the Battalion were holding the front line at Thiepval Wood, Somme in France. They were warned to 'stand to' as the Battalion on their right flank, the 15th Lancashire Fusiliers, had planned to carry out a raid on the German lines opposite and they wanted the Rifles to be at the ready in support if required. On the stroke of midnight a British bombardment opened up on the German lines, ahead of the raiding party. In retaliation, about 20 minutes later, the German artillery bombarded the R.I.R. lines thinking that this was where the then anticipated raid would come from. As a result a trench collapsed and the men manning it were buried alive. The remaining men struggled for hours in attempting to dig out those buried as a result 10 men were killed there and then and around 20 wounded with a few more dying of wounds and injuries at later dates. Five men were awarded the Military Medal for their actions and gallantry that night in trying to free their colleagues while under bombardment and machine-gun fire from the enemy lines. The result being the line of graves at Authuile Cemetery (all of the men killed that night are buried in a row alongside each other)."
Pte. Thomas Neill Martin
British Army 16th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles
from:53 Mount Street, Dromore, Co. Down
Thomas Neill Martin, eldest son of Robert James Martin and Agnes Sarah Bell was born in Dromore, County Down on the 29th May 1897. He had one younger brother also called Robert James and 3 sisters Minnie, Agnes Sarah and Ellen Ann. His father was a Boer War veteran and the 1901 census discloses that his uncle Thomas John Bell was helping his sister look after young Tommy and Minnie whilst their father was in South Africa. Thomas John Bell was later to be killed just a few days before the Battle of the Somme in WW1 not far from the relative safety of trenches his nephew had probably helped to construct..
Tommy enlisted in the call to arms on the 7th November 1914, joining the Second County Down Volunteers in Lurgan on the 14th November. This was later renamed as the 16th (Service) Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles (Pioneers) acting in the main role of Pioneer Battalion for the 36th (Ulster) Division.
His Regimental number was 16/124 but I do not know to which Company, Section or Platoon he was allocated. However I know he served with that Battalion throughout the First World War until early September 1918, when he was transferred back to England in the Labour Corps (Number 64877)
From Jeffrey Martin (author of Dromore’s Great War Heroes), “ The Dromore Weekly Times photocopy (for the following Saturday 21st November 1914) details a T. Martin (Mount Street) who enlisted that same week. I cross checked the article that I copied when the T.Martin medals were for sale and low and behold he is number 16-124 ! In other words, he was in the queue 22 places in front of my grandfather ( Sgt.Walter Martin). As I have a keen interest in the 16th Bn RIR, I know for a fact that men with these low numbers joined on the first day, in the second to third week of November, because by xmas numbers were up to about 800 and they imported 14th Bn. RIR men in Jan and Feb 1915 to bolster the 16th Battalion's numbers to the required 1200 establishment.â€
His medals are the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Special Constabulary Long Service Medal (EIIR) "Ulster" and a Battle of the Somme Commermorative Medal, also the Silver War Badge. The Special Constabulary "Ulster" Medal is a rare and dear to buy medal on its own. The fact that the word "Ulster" appears on the reverse of Tommy’s Special Constable Medal indicates it was issued on or after 1956, and that Thomas Martin saw service with the Crown during a period of over 40 years" The Somme Commemorative medals were only given to veterans returning to the Somme who fought there in 1916 or 1940 (WW2). In his case WW1 obviously. They were issued on special occasions such as the 40th or 50th anniversary (1956 or 1966) and indeed there were even some in 1976 for the few remaining veterans,
In the details listed with the medals it says that he was transferred to the Labour Corps (this generally indicates the man was wounded or incapacitated even by shell shock etc), able to do some work but not fit (no disrespect) for front line duty. His Labour Corps number was 648737 - a number series issued in the UK around September 1918. He was also given what was known as a Silver War Badge, this was so that when you went home you could wear it on your civilian clothes to show you had served and were injured and not "a shirker" as some would say. He was discharged on 27th November 1918. Though the war was over, it was still important to wear it as many including Jeffrey's grandfather did not return until March 1919 or later. The fact that the word "Ulster" appears on the reverse of Martin's Special Constables medal indicates it was issued on or after 1956, and that indicates that Thomas Martin saw service with the Crown during a period of 40 years"
I met and married Tommy’s granddaughter Marie in 1962 and got to know Tommy for a few years. I never spoke to him about the past and he rarely mentioned the war years like many of his generation. Tommy died on the 8th September 1969 and regrettably Marie and I were in Italy at the time, so she never had a chance to say goodbye to her dearly loved Granddad. Neither of them got to see the grandchildren for whom I have written a summary of the Battalion’s experiences from 1914 to 1919 which I wish to share with others interested in the exploits of these men in conditions we all find so difficult to comprehend.
Pte. Thomas Martin
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Easington Colliery
(d.1st July 1916)
Thomas Martin is named on the Thiepval Memorial
Pte. Thomas Martin
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Easington Colliery
(d.2nd Sep 1916)
Thomas Martin is named on the Artois Memorial
PO. Thomas Martin
Royal Navy HMS Albemarle
from:Hastings, Sussex
Thomas Martin, born 30th of January 1876, enlisted in the Royal Navy on 30th of January 1894. Originally from Hastings, Sussex, he worked as a fisherman before his enlistment. After various training duties, he served aboard a variety of ships and shore stations. In 1906, now as a Leading Seaman, Thomas Martin signed on for another term of service. Of particular note, Petty Officer Martin (as Leading Seaman) was awarded the Naval General Service Medal (with Persian Gulf 1909-1914 Clasp) for his service in the Pelorus-class cruiser HMS Proserpine, from 7th of June 1910 to 29th August 1912.
From 15th May1913 to 24th of April 1915, he served as a Leading Seaman in pre-dreadnought battleship HMS Albemarle, engaged in various Northern Patrol and Channel Fleet duties. From there, he was transferred to the sloop HMS Dahlia, that served as a minesweeper. Then, on 31st of March 1916, having been promoted to Petty Officer, he commenced a period of shore duty, until he embarked in HMS Apollo on 1st of September 1917. HMS Apollo was a former 2nd-class cruiser that had been converted into a depot ship in the Mediterranean Sea. In January 1918, HMS Apollo became depot ship for the 4th Destroyer Flotilla. Petty Officer Martin remained in HMS Apollo through 31st of December 1918.
According to his service record, it appears that He was pensioned on 29th of May 1919, after more than 25 years in the Royal Navy. For his service in the Great War, hewas awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Pte. Walter Martin
British Army 8th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles
from:Wandsworth, London
(d.7th June 1917)
My great grandfather, Walter Martin served in the 8th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles however, CWGC and some other sites have him down as Marten instead of Martin.
Pte. Walter Robert Martin
British Army 23rd Btn. London Regiment
(d.10th November 1915)
Walter Martin served with the 23rd Battalion London Regiment. On the 4 November 1915 the 23rd London Regiment of the 142 Brigade, 47th Division, were relieved from the front line near Loos in Northern France and moved back to the reserve trenches. From there they moved to Philosophe, Mazingarbe, France.
On the 10th November 1915 a shell landed on one of the billets occupied by C Company, 23rd Battalion London Regiment killing seven men outright including Private Martin. He is buried in the Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, Pas de Calais, France.
Sto1. Wilfred Vasil "Pincher" Martin
Royal Navy HMS Skirmisher
(d.18th August 1918)
Wilfred Martin did not die through enemy action and is buried in Pireus Naval Cemetery, Greece.
L/Cpl. William Martin
British Army 2nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
(d.8th May 1915)
Pte. William Martin
British Army 9th Glasgow Btn. Highland Light Infantry
from:Glasgow, Scotland
(d.26th Sep 1917)
My Grandfather William Martin was killed in action on September 26, 1917 in Flanders/France. He was the husband of Elizabeth Anderson Campbell and they had one son, my father, William Martin. All three were born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. I have the original notice of death addressed to my grandmother who was living at the Maryhill Barracks. My grandmother remarried a man named Samuel Taggart in 1920 and they immigrated to Canada in 1923. They lived the rest of their lives in a small town north of Toronto on the shores of Lake Simcoe, Ontario. My father also served with the Canadian Forces from 1939 to 1944 being wounded in action.
A/CQMS. William Charles Martin DCM.
British Army 9th Btn. Welsh Fusiliers
from:Cardiff
Pte. William Martin
British Army 62nd Btn. Machine Gun Corps
from:17 Crabtree Road, Hockley, Birmingham
(d.12th Sep 1918)
William Martin was the son of the late Thomas Martin and husband of Gertrude Fanny Martin, of 17 Crabtree Road, Hockley, Birmingham. He was killed in action aged 32, leaving behind his wife and 3 year old son, also named William. William Martin is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial in France.
Pte. William Martin
British Army 1st/6th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Newcastle
(d.12th Sep 1916)
Sgt. William Martin
British Army 4th Btn. Lincolnshire Regiment
from:Dundee, Scotland
William Martin is my grandfather. I do not know much of his war years and am trying to find out more. He was a pioneer farmer in Western Australia.
Pte. William Martin
British Army 13th Btn. Royal Irish Rifles
My great uncle Bill Martin served with the 13th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles in the 36th (Ulster) Division. A farmhand from Newtownards, he was 17 when he enlisted on 22nd of February 1915. He fought alongside his cousins and friends in France. He was wounded with shell-shock and was hospitalized in France and England before being discharged for medical reasons on 15th of June 1917. He returned to Newtownards and worked outdoors on farms, which was recommended to ease his nerves. In 1928 he emigrated to Toronto in Canada, where he later married and had one daughter.
Pte. William James Martin
British Army 8th (Service) Btn. Devonshire Regiment
from:Poldowrian, St Keverne, Helston, Cornwall
(d.27th March 1917)
The full story of Will Martin and his fiancee, Emily Ellen Chitticks has been the subject of books and as part of a television drama-documentary The Great War - the People's Story.
Pay Sjt. Herbert "Squirt" Martindale
British Army 1st Btn. Manchester Regiment
from:Longsight, Manchester
My Father's brother, Uncle Bert served in India. A few postcards have recently been found stuck in an old album and I have been able to detach them from their glued positions to reveal messages from Khandahar barracks in Fyzabad India. They were sent to my Father and his family and are dated between Dec 1917 and April 1918.
He speaks of the intense heat in March - 107 degrees and the Smallpox and Bubonic plagues and says the people are "dirty" and their straw houses had to be burned to the ground, so they were given tents to live in. He also says not to worry about him because he is in the "Land of Plenty" and he refers to parcels he has sent over requesting to know whether they have arrived so that he can have receipts. I was told that he sent ivory and brass ornaments and a cigar and he mentions a tin of tea and sugar. He says he expects the unit to be moved, the move abroad was cancelled but there is to be a move within India. I don't think that came about as in the April 1918 postcard he thinks "--this is the last few months of the war." His brother, my Father, didn't have a good war, he was badly wounded in Ypres while all this was going on.
Uncle Bert was in Hong Kong in the Military Police force at some time and was partially blinded due to an accident. He later married and two of his children are living. Having just telephoned one of them he tells me his Father first was at Hydrabad, and he referred to Fysabad as "flies are bad"!! The posting to Hong Kong was around 1920.
Lt. John Bell Martindale
British Army 2nd Btn. North Lancashire Fusiliers
from:Wilmslow
(d.1st Aug 1918)
John Martindale was born in 1887, the son of John Johnstone Martindale and Jessie Martindale, of "Lansdowne," Hawthorn Lane, Wilmslow. He died of his wounds on 1st August 1918 and is buried at Senlis French Cemetery at Oise.
L/Cpl. Dominic Martino
British Army Yorkshire Regiment
Dominic Martino was my Grandfather. He served with the Yorkshire Regiment 11 April 1915 to 2 September 1918.
He was crippled in the right arm and right leg by German machine gun fire which left bullet hole and notches in his ear as the machine gunner traversed his body with fire. He was listed as KIA and his wife Maria received a telegram to that effect. After discharge from a hospital he was declared unfit for future military service and received an honourable discharge.
He arrived home unexpectedly to everyone's surprise one day. His name is spelled both Martin and Martino on his records and medals. His regimental number (23282) is the only fixed factor.
Worse was to come for my beloved Grandmother when their only son, Kenneth Albert Martino joined the Royal Navy and he was a radio operator on North Atlantic convoy in WWII being on HMS Hardy torpedoed off Murmansk, he was saved when the appointed destroyer made the single sweep by to pick up survivors and one of his shipmates hanging off the pickup net grabbed him by the hair and pulled him inboard. Dad was hospitalised in Russia and yet again my Grandmother received a telegram to the effect that her only son (five daughters) had been KIA. He too was to arrive home unexpectedly to a grieving family.
Posted to the Pacific Theatre of war for a brief period he met and married my mother, an Australian. They had only one child, me! I was lucky enough to be drawn out of the ballot when conscription was introduced during the Vietnam war. I returned from Vietnam in receipt of a Totally & Permantly Disabled Soldiers pension.
It could be said that the three Martino's had a charmed life in defence of this democracy which the average citizen takes foolishly for granted. I do not wish to see my sons, grandsons or my great grandson devoting any of their time at war, although the way the world is going with the terrorist menace I don't feel too confident about that if we are to maintain a democratic way of life.
I am currently in the process of making a plaque with wartime photographs, medals and hat badges of the three generations of Martino's who have served, offering their all to a blasé population who take the sacrifices of Veterans for granted.
Pte S Alfred Martins
British Army 7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment
from:The Green, Aldborough, Norfolk
(d.12th August 1916)
Pte. William Frederick Martyn
British Army 5th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment
from:St Austell, Cornwall
(d.25th August 1918)
Page 21 of 101
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