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William John Martin (1893)

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William John Martin (1893)
Martin William John (1893).jpg
Sunday Times 25 Feb 1917 page 6 S
Personal Information
Date of Birth 25 Dec 1894
Place of Birth Northam, Western Australia
Death 1972, aged 77
Place of Death Harvey, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment 20 years, 8 months
Description 5'8" (1.73m) tall ; 162 lbs
73.482 kg
; fair complexion ; blue grey eyes ; brown hair
Occupation Shop assistant
Religion Church of England
Address Harvey, Western Australia
Next of Kin , Miss Sarah Robinson c/- Dr Moore Jarrahdale
Military Information
Reg Number 1893
Date of Enlistment 21 Sep 1915
Rank Bombardier
Unit/Formation 10th Light Horse Regiment, 13th reinforcement, transferred to V4a Heavy Trench Mortar Battery / 4th Division
Date of Embarkation 17 Jan 1916 ‒ ? Feb 1916
Ship Embarked On HMAT A30 Borda
Date of Return 12 May 1919 ‒ 21 Jun 1919
Ship Returned On SS Soudan
Fate Returned to Australia
Monument Jarrahdale Honour Roll
ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
Medals British War Medal
Victory Medal



Pre War

Before enlisting had spent 3 months in the 25th Light Horse Regiment (Militia)

War Service

Two months after entering camp, Bill was allocated to the 13th reinforcement draft for the 10th Light Horse Regiment, and travelled with them to Egypt. There in Heliopolis, as part of the Army reorganisation he was transferred on 1 Apr 1916 to the 4th Division Artillery who were then based at Serapeum.

Initially mustered as a Gunner with the 4th Division Ammunition Column and posted to 12 Section, this was changed to Driver on 18 May 1916. Along with his unit he was embarked in Alexandria aboard SS Oriana for the journey to Marseilles between 6 and 13 Jun 1916. In France, on 25 Jun 1916 he was allocated to the V4A Heavy Trench Mortar Battery where he was a batman. On 23 May 1917 he was promoted Temporary Bombardier, and on 2 Sep 1917 his rank was confirmed. On 16 Nov 1917 he reported sick to 4th Stationary Hospital in Arques with scabies, after which on 27 Nov 1917 he was transferred to the 39th General Hospital at Le Havre. Bill rejoined his unit on 14 Dec 1917. The V4A Heavy Trench Mortar Battery was disbanded on 21 Feb 1918, just after Bill had been transferred to the Australian Corps Heavy Trench Mortar Brigade on 15 Feb 1918.

Bill was granted leave between 2 and 17 Jun 1918. On 20 Nov 1918 he was transferred to the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade as units began to disband and men return to Australia. His final unit appears to have been the 102nd Field Artillery Battery.

Discharged 5th Military District 13 Aug 1919.

Post War

In 1919 William married Sarah Robinson in Harvey.

MARTIN.-On February 17, at Nurse Stockley's - Private Hospital, 590 Newcastle street, Perth, to Mr. and Mrs. W. Martin, of Jarrahdale - a son.[1]

Electoral Roll entries - 1968 With Sarah at Udoc road, Harvey, storekeeper;

References

  1. "Family Notices". Western Mail. XL, (2,040). Western Australia. 5 March 1925. p. 2. Retrieved 25 July 2017 – via National Library of Australia. 

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