MARTIN, Ernest James
| Service Number: | 136 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 July 1914, Melbourne, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Field Ambulance |
| Born: | Pontypool, Monmouthshire, Wales , 1890 |
| Home Town: | Pakenham Upper, Cardinia, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Park Terrace, Pontypool, Wales |
| Occupation: | Farm Labourer |
| Died: | Tuberculosis of Larynx, Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, Norwich, England , 28 April 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Bentley-With-Arksey Cemetery Plot number A. 51 (Family Grave) and has a Private Headstone. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Jul 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 136, 2nd Field Ambulance, Melbourne, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 136, 2nd Field Ambulance, HMAT Wiltshire A18 | |
| 28 Apr 1917: | Involvement Private, 136, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 136 awm_unit: 14th Australian Field Ambulance awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-04-28 |
Help us honour Ernest James Martin's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Caleb amd Annie MARTIN, 109 Watch House Lane, Doncaster
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
Enlisted and served as Ernest James
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Ernest James Martin was born in Pontypool, Monmouthshire, Wales in 1890.
According to information supplied by his mother for the Roll of Honour, Ernest James Martin came to Australia when he was 21 years of age.
Ernest James Martin enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) under the name of Ernest James (with “James” as his surname) on 18th August, 1914 stating he was a 24 year old Farm Labourer from Upper Pakenham, Victoria.
Private Ernest James, Service number 136, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Wiltshire (A18) on 19th October, 1914 with the 2nd Field Ambulance (A.M.C.).
He proceeded to Gallipoli on 5th April, 1915.
On 2nd May, 1915 Private James was admitted to Field Ambulance with Indigestion & discharged the same day.
He was admitted to Field Ambulance on 18th June, 1915 with diarrhoea & discharged on 20th June, 1915.
Private James was admitted again to Field Ambulance on 12th July, 1915 due to his teeth & was transferred to Military Hospital at Cottonera, Malta on 20th July, 1915. He was invalided to England on Hospital Ship on 16th September, 1915.
He was Absent without Leave from 23rd November, 1915 to 30th November, 1915. He was posted to A & NZ Base Depot at Monte Video, Weymouth, England & was written up for being A.W.L. on 2nd December, 1915. Private James forfeited 8 days’ pay & was confined to Barracks for 7 days.
On 15th January, 1916 Private James rejoined No. 2 Field Ambulance at Tel-el-Kebir from Hospital.
(Note: There are gaps in the service Record file with details not recorded – for example no record of how or when he was transferred from England to Tel-el-Kebir)
Private James was transferred from 2nd Field Ambulance to 14th Field Ambulance on 25th February, 1916.
He was written up on 20th April, 1916 for absenting himself without leave from 23.00 on 15th April, 1916 to 18.00 on 19th April, 1916. He was awarded 7 days confined to Barracks & forfeited 4 days’ pay.
Private James arrived in France from Alexandria on 25th June, 1916 with 14th Field Ambulance.
He was sent sick to 14th Field Ambulance on 31st October, 1916 (cause – could not be read) then sent sick again on 5th December, 1916. Private James was transferred to Hospital at Etaples with Catarrh then invalided to England on Hospital Ship .
On 20th February, 1917 he was admitted to Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, Norwich, England.
Private Ernest James Martin died at 12.45 pm on 28th April, 1917 at Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, Norwich, England from Tuberculosis of Larynx.
He was buried on 5th May, 1917 in Arksey Old Cemetery, Bentley–With-Arksey, South Yorkshire, England – Plot number A. 51 (Family Grave) and has a Private Headstone. His death is still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Red Cross Wounded & Missing file for Private Ernest James Martin contains a letter to the Red Cross from The Secretary, Norfolk & Norwich Hospital which reads : “I am somewhat surprised by your request that we should give you some particulars of the last hours and death of the above man, as his mother and married sister were staying in Norwich for some weeks previous to his death at this Hospital, and were, in fact, present when he passed away, and I concluded that if any relatives in Australia were anxious for information it would have been forwarded to them by Mrs James herself. If you desire any information I must refer you to Pte James’ relatives at:- Mrs Whitley (Sister) 264, Bentley Rd., Doncaster. I enclose a copy of a letter which was sent you containing this information on the 30th April last.”
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/bentley-with-arksey.html
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