JOHN HENRY MARTIN 1890–1916
Born 1890 in Skirbeck Quarter, Boston (Lincs.)
Died 26th December 1916 at 1st Southern General Hospital, Edgbaston, age 26
Buried in Radcliffe on Trent cemetery on 30th December 1916, grave reference B E 114
Commemorated on Radcliffe on Trent War Memorial
1891 Census
Age 11 months, living on Gibbet or Cut Throat Lane, Skirbeck Quarter, Boston with father, Henry, 29, gardener, and Fanny Maria Stephenson, 51, housekeeper. His mother had died.
1901 Census
Living on Newark Road, South Collingham with grandfather Henry Martin, 66, domestic groom and grandmother Jane, 62. Name recorded as Harry.
1911 Census
Age twenty, employed as a Poor Law clerk, living with grandfather Henry Martin, groom and gardener, grandmother Jane, aunts Sarah and Edith on Lincoln Grove, Radcliffe on Trent.
Military Service
Rank: Private
Service Number: 2990
Military Unit: 1st/4th Battalion, Alexandra Princess of Wales Own (Yorkshire Regiment) 150th Brigade, 50th Division
Theatre of War: France and Flanders, date of entry 18.4.15
Attested: 13th October 1914, Northallerton, Yorks, age 24; 4th Reserve Bn, Yorkshire Regiment, Territorial Force
Address: Sussex Villa, Bedale, Yorks
Physical development stout and strong; chest 35 ins; range of expansion 2 ins
13.10.14: Embodied 4th Yorks (Reserves)
23.12.14: Appointed Acting Lance Corporal, 2/4th Bn
12.3.15: Transferred to 1/4th Yorks Bn; reverts to Private
17.4.15: Embarked Folkestone
17/18.4.15: Disembarked Boulogne
10.5.15: Admitted to hospital in the Field
26.5.15: Rejoined Bn for duty in the Field
17.9.15: Admitted Armentieres, influenza
19.9.15: Admitted St Jans Cappel, influenza
17.10.15: To duty control post in the Field
8.11.15: Admitted Armentieres, influenza
10.11.15: Admitted St Jans Cappel, influenza
21.11.15: Rejoined for duty
6.1.16: Admitted to hospital in the Field, scabies (2 months)
12.3.16: Discharged to duty
18.6.16: Admitted to hospital in the Field, sciatica
25.6.16: To duty
28.6.16: Admitted to hospital, sciatica
29.6.16: No 12 Ambulance train to Boulogne, admitted sciatica
2.7.16: To England via Hospital Ship St Denis
25.10.16: Medical Board Report: ‘Tuberculosis. Origin indefinite while serving in France. Present condition fairly satisfactory. Due to TB infection exposure on active service. Total disablement pension 25 shillings (£1.25p) per week for 6 months then half permanently if he reacts well to treatment.’
11.11.16: John was in Norfolk and Norwich Hospital when he signed a ’Proceedings on discharge form’, details below:
Description at the time of discharge: Intended place of residence Lincoln Grove, Radcliffe on Trent; trade: solicitor’s clerk; height 6 ft 1 inch; complexion fair; eyes grey; hair light brown.
Military character: very good; honest, sober and trustworthy
Statement of Account:
Rate of pay at 1/- per day from 18.4.15 to 15.11.16: £28.15.0
Received in France: 525 francs (28 francs to the £) £18.15.0. Balance £10.0.0
15.11.16: Discharged no longer physically fit for war service; service 2 yrs 35 days
Home 13.10.14 to 17.4.15; Expeditionary Force, France 18.4.15 to 2.7.16; Home 3.7.16 to 15.11.16
26.12.16: Died from meningitis 1st Southern General Hospital, Edgbaston
Next of kin: Henry Martin (grandfather), Lincoln Grove, Radcliffe on Trent
Medals Awarded: 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory, received 20.3.23
Other Information
All the 4th battalions (1/4th, 2/4th, 3/4th of the Alexandra Princess of Wales Own (Yorkshire Regiment) were territorial battalions but only the 1/4th, John Martin’s battalion, were stationed abroad.
Details of death
Died in the UK. from meningitis, having been discharged from the army due to illness (source: death register).
Epitaph: ‘Rest after weariness, peace after pain’.
Army Register of Soldiers’ effects – £21.0s.5d to his aunt Sarah Martin, his grandmother and Janet E Martin.
Reasons for inclusion on Radcliffe on Trent Roll of Honour
Lived in Radcliffe on Trent.
Radcliffe on Trent cemetery