MARTIN, Walter Basil
| Service Number: | 2742 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 53rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Longreach, New South Wales, Australia, 1894 |
| Home Town: | Bowraville, Nambucca Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, England, United Kingdom, 13 October 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Wandsworth (Earlsfield) Cemetery, London England |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 2742, 18th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 2742, 18th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney | |
| 13 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 2742, 53rd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2742 awm_unit: 53rd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-10-13 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Died on this date – 13th October…… Walter Basil Martin was born at Longreach, near Marulan, in the Goulburn district of New South Wales in 1894 to parents William Caleb Martin & Catherine Anne Martin (nee Armstrong).
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 2nd July, 1915 as a 21 year old, single, Farmer from Buccrabendinni (as listed on Embakation Roll) Creek, Nambucca River, NSW.
Private Walter Basil Martin, Service number 2742, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on HMAT Euripides (A14) on 2nd November, 1915 with the 18th Infantry Battalion, 6th Reinforcements. His older brother – Private Kenneth Bertram Martin, Service number 2715, embarked the same day with 18th Infantry Battalion, 6th Reinforcements.
On 1st April, 1916 Private Walter Martin joined Base Depot. He was taken on strength of 5th Training Battalion on 18th April, 1916.
He was taken on strength of 53rd Battalion on 20th April, 1916 at Tel-el-Kebir from 18th Battalion. Private Martin embarked from Alexandria on 19th June, 1916 on Royal George to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force). He disembarked at Marseilles, France on 28th June, 1916.
Private Walter Basil Martin was wounded in action in France on 19th July, 1916. He was admitted to 14th Field Ambulance & transferred on 21st July, 1916 to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to Legs (severe). Private Maritn was transferred to Ambulance Train on 22nd July, 1916 & admitted to 8th Stationary Hospital at Wimereaux on the same day seriously ill (another line on Casualty Form – Active Service recorded that Private Martin was dangerously ill on 22nd July, 1916). On 24th July, 1916 there was no change to Private Martin’s condition. Another progress report was noted on 12th August, 1916 – “still in hospital - no change” & again on 21st August, 1916. Private Martin was transferred to Boulogne, France on 31st August, 1916 & embarked for England the same day on Hospital Ship St. David.
From the War Diary – 53rd Battalion went into action with 28 Officers & 822 Other Ranks. On 26th July, 1916 the Battalion had noted the following losses – Officers - 6 Killed, 10 wounded & 8 missing. Other Ranks – 30 killed, 343 wounded & 228 Missing.
On 31st August, 1916 Private Martin was admitted to 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, England with G.S.W. to right Leg.
Private Walter Basil Martin died on 13th October, 1916 at 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, England from wounds received in action in France – G.S.W. (gunshot wounds) to right Thigh & left Leg.
He was buried in Wandsworth (Earlsfield) Cemetery, London, England where 34 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/wandsworth-earlsfield.html
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