Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Stewart, known as Sam, was born in the thriving country town of Curramulka, on the Yorke Peninsula in April 1916, the oldest son of James Alan and Edith Martin. He was just two when his parents moved to Alberton where his brothers Maxwell Robert, Joseph Evan and Douglas James were born in 1919, 1920 and 1924 respectively.
Following his school years at Port Adelaide, Sam returned to Curramulka as a farm hand at a property called Sandilands, owned by his uncle, William Grundy and family. Being a country town, Sam inevitably played football for Curramulka in the Yorke Valley Association, regularly appearing in the goal scoring list.
However, WWII intervened. In huge enlistment drives, the army targeted country regions, aiming to encourage fit, single young men to sign up. The Minlaton region was exceptionally successful with 24-year-old Sam enlisting on the 13th July ’40 with fellow farmers, Doug Cameron SX8847 and Jim Travis SX8872. The local Pioneer in July listed many other young men from the area who had enlisted ‘Messrs. Doug. Cameron, Stuart Martin (sic), Pat Whyte, Jim Travis, who have enlisted for Overseas Service, entered Wayville Camp on Monday.’ Fortuitously, all were allocated to the 2/48th Battalion together. Patrick was SX8874.
(Myles Grundy, son of Bill Grundy and ten years Sam’s junior, also enlisted in January ’44. A year prior, Donald Watters, brother of Lorna, enlisted in the Air Force in March ’43 as 122771.)
Probably because of their closeness to the sea at Port Adelaide, Sam’s three brothers all enlisted in the navy. Max in September ’39, becoming an Able Seaman PA1507, Joseph in November the same year as PA1612 and Douglas in August ’42 as Corporal A4456.
For those in the 2/48th, their early army days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before they headed to Woodside for preliminary training. Briefly returning home, Sam was feted at several farewells. The first was organised by the Grundy family, who entertained several young people on the weekend in honour of their nephew, now Private Martin. The Curramulka Soldiers’ Welfare Committee also organised a social evening for Sam, Doug and Jim. They were welcomed on stage with others from Port Vincent and Sam’s brother, Able Seaman Joseph Martin. Representatives, including from the Football Club spoke in praise of the young men before each was presented with an inscribed wristlet watch inscribed from the Curramulka community. Each of the young men responded, thanking the community which had supported them. Dancing, supper, and the singing of "For they are jolly good fellows” and "Auld Lang Syne" brought the evening to a close.
Following pre-embarkation leave the 2/48th Battalion then left on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 17th November 1940, disembarking on the 17th December. Unfortunately Sam was hospitalised on the voyage and again soon after arriving. The young men then completed a few months training in Cyrenaica. From there, they were soon on their way to serve in Tobruk, Syria and Egypt. By the start of April 1941, the 2/48th were in Tobruk where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to the new enlistees. At that stage, they were unaware they were to become the famed Rats of Tobruk.
Sam was wounded in action in October ’42. Conditions were ever-changing and the fighting relentless. In his book ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ John Glenn describes that time “which was to be the most bitter and bloody fighting of the war. When next the sun drove away those shadows from the desert, death would have reaped a rich harvest of gallant men. And of the 2/48th Battalion only forty-one weary troops would remain in the field.”
He continued: “At zero hour, 1 a.m. 31st October, the artillery opened up with a receding barrage – one that creeps back on itself. The attack was towards the guns themselves, the enemy being between the troops and the guns… Added to this, the troops came under heavy shell fire as they were forming up, and suffered casualties before they commenced their attack… One gun was landing shells right amongst the men. As soon as the main road was reached the two leading companies came under murderous fire, and from then until they reached their objective, 2,250 yards from the start line, the whole advance was fought in fierce hand-to-hand fighting.”
His final summing up was ‘Truly it can be said of these men, “They fought themselves and their enemy to a standstill until flesh and blood could stand no more, then they went on fighting.” In added high praise about those who tended the wounded and collected those killed in action “It says much for them that not one man was missing in their search over the four thousand yards from Trig 29 to the Blockhouse, or in the attack of 3,600 yards to Ring Contour 25.” An horrific battle for the proud and very brave 2/48th Battalion.
The November issue of the Advertiser reported that ‘Mr. and Mrs. J. Martin, of 17 Dudley street. Semaphore, have been informed that their eldest son, Dvr. Stewart Martin, was wounded in action in Egypt in October 24. He has three brothers in the forces. He was employed by his uncle, Mr. W. K. Grundy, of Sandilands. before enlisting in November. 1940.’
Almost a month later back home, the Chronicle in December included a list of the men, predominantly from the 2/48th Battalion, killed in action. From the 2/48th they included SX7832 Pte. Max C. Boase, Millicent; SX6896 Pte. Lance Chapman, North Moonta; SX7260 Sgt. Charles Fraser, Norwood; SX8651 Sgt. Lindsay R. Goode, Malvern; SX13580 Pte. Ronald A. Grist. Port Noarlunga; SX8587 Pte. George W. Haywood, Mount Compass: SX310 Sgt. Alfred W G. Miller, Ponde; SX9488 Pte. Eric L. Montgomerie, , Edwardstown; SX7375 Sgt Charles E. Plummer, College Park; SX7176 A-Cpl. William C. Quinn, Bordertown; SX8113 Pte. Michael N. Riley, Burnside; SX7298 Cpl. Harold Sandercock, Maitland; SX7732 Ste. Clem H. Schulz, Yorketown; SX12924 Pte. Richard Speck, Blanchetown; SX8491 Pte. Arthur G. Wilson,2/48th Glanville. SX8871 Private S.A. Martin, Sandilands was amongst those listed as wounded. These were some of South Australia’s finest young men.
The battalion was finally on the return voyage to Australia via Melbourne in February ’43. Following brief leave, Sam was again training, this time in the tropics of Queensland, preparing to face a very different enemy in New Guinea. He arrived in Milne Bay in August that year. However, either as a legacy of football or the extensive marching involved in the army, Sam experienced problems with the medial ligament of his knee but remained in New Guinea until the conclusion of the war. He was finally discharged on the 24th January ’45.
During those war years, Lorna Watters was an active member of the Red Cross and the Fighting Forces Comfort Fund, raising money in a variety of innovative ways with Dances, Pin Up Girls’ Competitions, knitting for the troops, selling tin hats, creating parcels containing newspapers and a variety of knitted garments to send overseas and generally raising funds to support the troops.
Sam and Lorna married the year he was discharged, announcing their ceremony in the Advertiser. ‘WATTERS-MARTIN.—The marriage of Lorna M., elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. R Watters, to Stewart A. (A.I.F. discharged), elder son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A Martin, Semaphore. Will be solemnised at Curramulka Methodist Church on October 3, at 6.30 p.m.’
By July ’52 Lorna’s father, Lloyd, who by that time had served for twenty years on the Minlaton Council, had transferred Section 80 of his farm land to Lorna and Sam. In the ensuing years, Sam was an active worker and office bearer in the local RSL as well as representing fellow farmers as President of the United Farmers and Graziers.
Lorna pre-deceased Sam and died on the 22nd May 1994. She was buried at Curramulka. Aged 95, Sam died He died on the 5th October 2011 and now rests with Lorna.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.