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When Walter Sorrell enlisted in 1901 in the 6th QIB and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 13 Apr 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as James Saul, Sandgate. In the original Nominal Roll of the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent, held by National Archives, it is noted hs N.O.K. was his step-brother James Saul, Sandgate, Qld.

Queensland newspapers reported his wounding (The Telegraph 10 Sep 1901) and return to Australia (The Queenslander, 21 Jun 1902) under his enlisted name of Walter Sorrell. However, Walter Sorrell may have been an alias used by Martin William Saul, who in Mar 1902 wrote to his mother (details published in The Macleay Argus NSW, 19 Apr 1902) which indicated he was serving with the Queensland Bushmen when involved in a battle where a number of New Zealand soldiers were killed. The nominal Roll compiled by Murray does not list any soldier with the surname of Saul.

Martin William Saul was born in 1862 at Seven Oaks, Macleay River, NSW, a son to James and Jane Saul. He was the second eldest son of James and Jane, their eldest son was named James and was born in 1860.

When Martin William Saul passed on 30 Sep 1936 in Sydney, a number of obituaries were published in newspapers serving the Kempsey and surrounding districts. He had been living at Kempsey when he was taken ill and transferred from the local hospital to a hospital in Sydney where he passed. All the obituaries note his Boer war service, some a little more extravagently than others, and note his surviving siblings, one of which was his brother James in Brisbane. It would appear that Walter Sorrell was Martin William Saul. One of the obituaries is transcribed below.

Mr. Martin Saul (Obit)- The Macleay Chronicle, 7 Oct 1936, p. 5.

The late Mr Martin Saul of Kempsey, Macleay River, who passed peacefully away in hospital, Sydney, on Wednesday morning last, September 30, 1936, was the second eldest son of the late James and Jane Saul of Seven Oaks, Macleay River. Veteran of the Boer war, he won distinction under the late Lord Roberts, serving right through the campaign with only two short interruptions, due to slight wounds. Prior to the war he was a public school teacher on the Queensland-New South Wales border, and enlisted from Queensland. Being an educated man it was interesting to hear him speaking on his travels abroard. He was born at Seven Oaks in 1862. His surviving brothers are James (Brisbane Q.), Richard (South West Rocks), William (Great Barrier Reef Q.), while sisters are Mrs. John Reilly (Smithtown), Mrs. Robt. Jamieson (Frederickton), Miss Annie Saul (South West Rocks). Two brothers, Harry and Chris, and one sister predeceased him. The funeral took place at 11 o'clock Thursday morning  at the Necropolis and amongst the chief mourners were four of his neices, Mrs. N. Bruce, Mrs. C. Jackson, and misses Mary and Angela Reilly, and sisters-in-law Mesdames H. Saul and A. J. Hefren.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 516; National Archives Australia- B 5172 Nominal Roll of 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent Queensland Defence Force for service in South Africa, p. 5; various newspaper articles- see links).

Martin William Saul (1862-1936)
Private, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen
Service Number: 342

 
Martin William Saul was born on 2 June 1862, the second child and son of James and Jane Saul. He was born at Seven Oaks on Henry Oakes' estate where his parents were tenant farmers. Later the family moved to Kinchela Creek and Clybucca to farm. He would have been schooled at home by his educated Irish mother as there was no local school at the time. Possibly as a result of this home schooling Martin became a school teacher from 1882, teaching in small schools like Tooloom near Kyogle Northern NSW. After about two years, Martin returned to the Macleay and went into business with Austin McLaughlin, running a store in Smithtown from a property owned by Martin's brother Richard. After two years Martin bought McLaughlin out, borrowing money from his brother Richard to do so. However, he was unable to keep the business afloat and he declared himself bankrupt in 1886. Afterwards Martin lived in Sydney and later with his parents at Clybucca. He then went to Queensland and lived with his brother James Henry Saul in Sandgate, near Brisbane. When Martin enlisted in Queensland in 1901 to serve with troops off to the Boer War, he used the name Walter Sorrell. He enlisted with the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, recording his brother, James Saul, Sandgate as his next of kin. Martin embarked at Pinkenba, Brisbane Queensland on 4 April 1901 aboard the 'Victoria' arriving Cape Town on 2 May 1901. On 28 August 1901 he was wounded at Leeuwpoort. Martin sent several descriptive letters to his parents which were then published in local Macleay River newspapers and Sydney and Queensland papers. He left South Africa on 17 May 1902 and arrived in Brisbane on 17 June. Martin was discharged on 23 June 1902.

Martin returned to the Macleay region and worked on a number of farms at Clybucca. He became well-known for his tales of the Boer War and for his support for those enlisting in the First World War. He was very patriotic and often chaired farewell and welcome home committees to support local soldiers at Clybucca. 

From the late 1920s Martin spent several times in hospital. At the beginning of September 1936, Martin went to Sydney for treatment. He died in Lidcombe State Hospital on 29 September 1936.While in hospital he was visited by relatives living in Sydney at the time. He was buried in Rookwood cemetery.