Ernest Gordon Martin

Ernest Gordon Martin

Personal Information
Date of Birth	10 Aug 1917
Place of Birth	'Poplar', Kelmscott, Western Australia
Death	24 May 2000, aged 82
Place of Death	South Perth, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	24 years, 6 months
Description	5'9" (1.75m) tall ; 154lbs 69.853 kg ; fair complexion ; brown eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Income Tax Assessor
Religion	Methodist
Address	Mount Hawthorn, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs. Mavis Jean Martin
Military Information
Reg Number	W60006 & 436926
Date of Enlistment	2 Mar 1942 & 22 May 1923
Rank	Lance Corporal & Warrant Officer
Unit/Formation	2nd (Fremantle) VDC Battalion & No. 14 Aircrew Holding Unit RAF
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	1 Jul 1944 ‒ 4 Aug 1944
Transport Details	unknown Sydney to UK
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	4 Oct 1945 ‒ 29 Oct 1945
Transport Details	unknown UK to Fremantle
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Medals	War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Ernest had attended Perth Boy's School from 1929 until 1932 where he passed the Junior Certificate in seven subjects. He had completed teh Internmediate examination of the Australian Federated Institiute of Accountants, and prior to enlistment was in the final stages of completing the Final examination having completed all but one unit. He was employed by the Taxation Offic e in Perth. Electoral Roll entry: 1943 Kelmscott, clerk.

On 27 Jul 1939 Ernest married Mavis Jean Buckingham (1919 - 2002) in Kelmscott. Mavis died in South Perth on 30 Jul 2002 aged 82. Their daughter Maureen Dawn was born 2 Jul 1941 prior to Ernest's enlistment, and a son, Don born 8 Feb 1944 prior to Ernie's his time in the UK.

War Service

Ernest's original attempt to enlist occurred on 2 Mar 1942 at Claremont, but the result was to defer his enlistment. Instead Ernest enlisted in the Volunteer Defence Corps at Armadale and was posted to the 2nd (Fremantle) VDC Battalion, so perhaps even at that point he had indicted a desire to join the RAAF. Ernest served with the VDC from 2 Mar 1942 until 22 Oct 1943. Along the way, on 15 Jan 1943 he was appointed Lance Corporal in 'D' Company.

Ernest joined the RAAF at the No. 4 RAAF Recruiting Centre on 22 May 1943, mustered as an Airman Pilot. He was sent the same day to No. 5 Initial Training School RAAF at Clontarf, to begin his training. On 14 Aug 1943 Ernie was promoted to Leading Aircraftman and he joined the No. 9 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF at Cunderdin. Graduating from there he was posted on 26 Oct 1943 to No. 4 Service Flying Training School RAAF in Geraldton. Training complete, he was promoted Temporary Sergeant on 7 May 1944 after passing the No. 42 Pilots course run by 4SFTS and was posted on 13 May 1944 to the No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF while waiting to be posted overseas.

On 30 May 1944 Ernie joined No. 1 Personnel Depot RAAF at Ascot Vale in Melbourne before being transferred to No. 2 Personnel Depot RAAF in Bradfield Park, Sydney on 25 Jun 1944. From 12 - 22 Jun 1944 he had been detached to No. 13 Flying Training School Point Cook. On 1 Jul 1944 following 6 days pre-embarkation leave, his records show him embarking in Sydney for the UK where he disembarked on 12 Aug 1944 and was taken on strength by No. 11 Personnel Despatch & Receiving Centre RAAF in Brighton, detached to the RAF for service. Ernie was a patient in the hospital at RAF Halton from 28 Sep until 31 Oct 1944, before being promoted Temporary Flight Sergeant on 7 Nov 1944 and then being detached to RAF Station Whitley Bay from 21 Nov until 21 Dec 1944.

From 5 Jan 1945 until 2 Feb 1945 he was detached to the No. 50 Group RAF Pool (6 RFTS) and then from 9 Mar 1945 until 20 Apr 1945 to No. 29 EFTS. On 2 May 1945 his records show him as posted to No. 4 School of Technical Training RAF where from 4 May until 2 July he was enrolled on a course. From 13 Jul 1945 until 2 Oct 1945 he was posted to No. 14 Aircrew Holding Unit RAF

Ernie began his return to Australia, posted to No. 11 Personnel Despatch & Receiving Centre RAAF on 3 Oct 1945, and the following day he was embarked on a ship for return to Australia. Ernie disembarked in Fremantle on 29 Oct 1945.

Following his arrival, Ernie was posted to No. 5 Personnel Depot RAAF. On 7 Nov 1945 he was promoted Acting Warrant Officer. Given the lengthy period prior to discharge it is likely that he was granted leave owing to him from his servie in the UK. Durign this time, on 16 Jan 1946 Ernie was admitted to the 110th Australian Base Hospital, and following treatment was released on 22 Jan 1946 back to the personnel depot where his discharge took place on 8 Feb 1946.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1980 at 29 Carr street, South Perth, clerk

Notes

His brother Phillip Herbert Martin DFC & Bar served in the RAAF based in England.