Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

RECOMMENDED FOR IMMEDIATE AWARD OF MM (Military Medal)

VX73557 A/Cpl. William Charles MARTIN – 14/32 Aust Inf Bn.

Date of Birth: 14th Feb. 1917 Date of Enl: 10th Feb 1942 Age: 24 years

Next of Kin: (wife) Mrs W C Martin, 2 Hudson Street, Coburg, Vic.

CITATION:

For great bravery and devotion to duty at WAITAVALO, NEW BRITAIN on 18 Mar 1945. Cpl MARTIN’s section was attacking BACON HILL, a strongly held and stubbornly defended height on which the enemy was making his final stand. Attacking up a steep jungle spur, Cpl MARTIN’S section came under LMG (light machine gun), rifle, grenade and mortar fire from enemy entrenched in three separate strong posts. This fire prevented any forward movement of the section but Cpl Martin shouting out “They can’t do that to me”, promptly advanced single handed with great courage and dash, alternately firing his Owen gun and throwing grenades. Before being wounded he accounted for five enemy and had forced them to abandon all three posts. Not only was his courage an inspiration to his section, but his gallantry enabled the section to gain an important foot hold in the enemy perimeter; an attack subsequently launched through this position finally broke the Jap resistance in WAITAVALO.