Martin Joseph TIMMINS

TIMMINS, Martin Joseph

Service Number: 2665
Enlisted: 9 August 1916
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 34th Infantry Battalion
Born: Moree, New South Wales, Australia, 9 July 1897
Home Town: Moree, Moree Plains, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Grazier
Died: Greenslopes, Queensland, Australia, 15 August 1956, aged 59 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane, Qld
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World War 1 Service

9 Aug 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 34th Infantry Battalion
17 Nov 1916: Involvement Private, 2665, 34th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Napier embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: ''
17 Nov 1916: Embarked Private, 2665, 34th Infantry Battalion, SS Napier, Sydney

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Biography contributed by Carmel Elliott

Martin Joseph Timmins was born on the 9th of July 1897 at "Lowlands", Curragundi, near Moree NSW Australia. He is the sixth son and thirteenth child born to William Henry Timmins and Elizabeth Garner ('nee Ingham) Timmins. His father was a Selector and Teamster in the Moree district.

At the age of 21 years and 1 month, Martin took the oath and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on the 9th of August 1916 at Armidale NSW Australia.

At the time of his enlistment, he was living on his family’s property at “Lowlands”, Bullarah via Moree, NSW, Australia, and his occupation was recorded as “Grazier”. He had always suffered from poor vision and had failed in the vision tests twice before he was finally accepted in the Australian Imperial Force.

A description of Martin recorded in his military file states that he was: - 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighed 10 stone 7lbs, had a dark complexion, brown eyes, and dark hair.

He passed the medical examination the same day as enlistment and was assigned to the Armidale Depot Battalion until the 25th of August 1916 when he was transferred into the 5th Reinforcements/34th Battalion.

On the 17th of November, Martin embarked from Sydney NSW per the "SS Port Napier" heading to Devonport England. He spent a couple of months in a training camp before proceeding overseas to France in April 1917.

Martin was wounded in action on the 10th of June 1917 and taken to the 9th field ambulance station suffering from gas shell poisoning. He was transferred to Boulogne where he convalesced until his discharged from the hospital to Base details on the 27th of July 1917. During his time in the hospital, Martin wrote home and a portion of his letter was published in the local newspaper. (Click in the link section of this bio to read the full letter).

Excerpt:- ...says that he supposed she had heard that he was a battle casualty. He had gone right through the charge without a scratch and had stayed in the lines for four days. On the night that they were relieved, he was in a firing bay, with two of his mates, when a shell landed nearly in their trench, covering them with earth, out of which they had to dig themselves. "That night," says the writer, "after we came back, I got a taste of gas. The shell landed about 30 yards from us, and before I could get my mask on, I got a sniff of it, and I had the jumps for about two or three nights after. But I am feeling better now."

On the 21st of August 1917, he was transferred back to England for permanent base duty where he has moved around between depots for the next year. During this period he also spent time in and out of various hospitals.

On the 24th of October 1918, he once again proceeded overseas to France and rejoined his unit at the Front.

Early January 1919 saw Martin detached to the Brigade Agricultural School until the 8th of March when he was transferred back to England because of Defective Vision. He spent some more time in hospital before being discharged on the 17th of March.

Private Martin Joseph Timmins married Eleanor Margaret Shattock in the Registration District of Bristol, England, on the 6th of Aug 1919. At the time of their marriage, Martin and Eleanor were both 22 years of age and their address was stated as 133 Cromwell Road, Montpelier. A reception was held afterward at the bride's parents' home, and in the afternoon the happy couple left for Cornwall, where they spent their honeymoon.

Demobilisation took place on the 5th of September 1919 and saw Martin return to Australia per "HT Plassy", reaching Sydney Australia on the 30th October 1919.

He was officially discharged from the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on the 14th of December 1919.

Martin and Margaret had one child, a daughter born in 1921.

Martin passed away on the 15th of August 1956 at the Repatriation Hospital, Greenslopes Queensland. He was 59 years of age.

Martin Joseph Timmins was buried on the 22nd of August 1956 in the military section of the Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane.

Headstone: Private Martin Joseph Timmins

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