William George Martin

Personal Information
Date of Birth	unknown
Place of Birth	Gingin, Western Australia
Death	3 Sep 1947, aged 75
Place of Death	Mt Lawley, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	42 years, 10 months
Description	5' 9" (1.75m) tall; weight 158 lbs (71.7 kg); brown complexion, brown eyes, black and grey hair.
Occupation	Road Board foreman
Religion	Church of England
Address	Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife Mrs Clara Martin
Military Information
Reg Number	4003
Date of Enlistment	4 Mar 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	32nd Battalion, 10th Reinforcement / 8th Brigade, 5th Division
Date of Embarkation	30 Oct 1916 - 26 Dec 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A16 Port Melbourne
Date of Return	19 Oct 1918 - 15 Dec 1918
Ship Returned On	SS Sardinia
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Armadale War Memorial (West Armadale panel) Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Electoral Roll entries: 1903 Burt street, Perth, dairyman; 1906 - 1916 dairyman at 9th Avenue, Armadale; 1917 foreman (Armadale-Kelmscott Roads Board foreman of the outside workforce).

War Service

Initially allocated to 13th Reinforcement for the 28th Battalion. While still in WA he transferred in turn to the 22nd reinforcement for the 11th Battalion, and then the 10th reinforcement for the 32nd Battalion.

On arrival in England was posted to the 8th Training Battalion in Hurdcott, and spends some time in hospital at Fovant with mumps before entering France via Folkestone on 20 Mar 1917.

Taken on strength of the 32nd Battalion on 25 Mar 1917 near Gueudecourt. His son Harold Percival Martin was also to become a member of the 32nd Battalion on 7 Feb 1918. William was admitted to 5th General Hospital in Rouen after developing pyelites / nephritis on 5 Jun 1918, and transferred on HMHS Western Australia to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Netley on 18 Jun 1918 and then the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital on 19 Jul 1918.

The next day he was discharged from hospital to the No 2 Command Depot, awaiting medical evacuation to Australia on 19 Oct 1918, and final discharge by 5th Military District on 2 Mar 1919.

Mentioned in The Drill of the Foot-Hills 1917 Feb-Mar edition, but no detail.

Post War

Married Clara Kay at Chittering in 1898. Clara died 11 Mar 1960 aged 82. Children - Harold Percival b. 17 Oct 1898 d.24 Jul 1981; Clara Ivy b. 1900 d. 25 Feb 1987; Olive May b. 1901 d. 29 Dec 1964. Murial Marcia b.1905; Arthur Mervyn b.1911 d. 27 Feb 1979, George b. ??

Electoral Roll entries - 1921 returned soldier at 213 Bulwer street, North Perth; 1925 - 1936 warehouseman at 16 Farnley street, Maylands; 1937 - 1943 a warehouseman at 41a Railway parade, Maylands where he died.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial