George Frederick Martin
- Family History
- Military History
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George Frederick was the son of Alfred Frederick and Annie Rose Martin (née Fisher). Both parents were born in Nottingham. Alfred Frederick on 2 March 1873, the son of James and Mary Martin, and baptised at Nottingham St Patrick (Anglican) on 4 May 1873. Annie Rose Fisher was born in 1873 (O/N/D Nottingham). They were married at Nottingham St Ann 5 November 1892 and had nine children of whom six survived childhood: George birth registered 1894 (J/F/M), Harry b. abt 1898, Arthur b. 31 May 1900, Florence Edith b. 1902, Robert b. 1905 and Stanley b. 1907. One of the children to died young may have been Lily Mabel b. 1893 (J/F/M) d. 1896 (A/M/J). In 1901 Alfred (28), a bricklayer's labourer, and Annie (27) were living at 4 Oxford Square, Nottingham, with their three sons, George (8), Harry (4) and Arthur (1). By 1911 they were living at 8 Deligne Street, New Radford; Alfred was working as a lace cutter. He and Annie now had six children: George a threader, Harry a lace draughtsman, Arthur, Florence (8), Robert (5) and Stanley (3). Arthur attested in the RAF on 15 June 1918; he was 18 years old (b. 31 May 1900) and a joiner's apprentice. He named his mother Annie of 1 Moorgate Street, Radford, as his next of kin. He served as a rigger and was discharged at Clipstone Camp, Nottinghamshire, on 19 March 1919 and transferred to the RAF Reserve the following day. George's father completed a form for the army in May 1919 listing his son's surviving blood relatives. Alfred Frederick did not include his wife Annie or son Harry on the form. He and his sons Arthur (19), Robert (13) and Stanley (12) were living at 1 Moorgate Street, Radford, while his daughter Florence Edith (18) was a nurse at Bagthorpe Hospital, Nottingham. Harry has not yet been traced after 1911 and Annie after 1918. Alfred Frederick, Stanley and Florence have not yet been traced after 1919. Arthur married Grace E Jones in 1933 and in 1939 they were living on Amesbury Circus, Nottingham; he was a maintenance engineer. Arthur died in 1965. Robert may have died in 1925 (J/A/S Nottingham).
Private George Frederick Martin served with the 1/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire) Regiment (Robin Hood Rifles). He attested in the Territorial Force (Sherwood Foresters) in May 1911 at the age of 17 years 4 months. He served in the regular army from 5 August 1914 and was with the BEF in France from 28 February 1915. He was killed in action three months later on 31st May 1915. He was buried in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium (grave ref. A.57); the service was conducted by the Rev. JP Hales, the Sherwood Foresters' chaplain. George qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery (extract): 'Kemmel Chateau was north-east of Kemmel village and the cemetery was established on the north side of the chateau grounds in December 1914. It continued to be used by divisions fighting on the southern sectors of the Belgian front until March 1918, when after fierce fighting involving both Commonwealth and French forces, the village and cemetery fell into German hands in late April. The cemetery was retaken later in the year.'
His brother Corporal Harry Martin enlisted at Nottingham, he served with the South Nottinghamshire Hussars and was killed on 27th May 1918 when he was travelling aboard 'The Leasowe Castle troopship when it was torpedoed and sunk. His name is commemorated on the Chatby Memorial, Egypt Article published in the Nottingham Daily Express on 7th June 1915 :- The deaths of two members of the Albert Hall Mission were commemorated at a service held on 6th June 1915. Given Italy's recent entry into the war on the allied side, the service included a lecture on the country and a performance of the Italian national anthem. “AN ITALIAN SERVICE. “Yesterday’s Interesting Music at the Albert Hall. “The fact that two more soldier members had died in action was announced at the Albert Hall yesterday. [6th June 1915] In both oases the notification was unofficial, but little doubt attaches to the reports received. Pte. J. H. Palfreyman (2nd Lancashire Fusiliers), one of the two heroes, is reported to have been “gassed” in the trenches on May 2nd. He was an enthusiastic member of the Albert Hall Boys' Brigade in his younger days, and greatly beloved amongst the young men of the hall. Private G. F. Martin (7th Robin Hoods), reported a companion to have been killed in action, was a member of the Albert Hall Young Men's Bible Class. Martin’s name is the nineteenth name of honoured dead in this solemn roll at the Albert Hall. Last week 17 Albert Hall men enlisted, bringing the Mission’s figures up to 585. “At yesterday afternoon’s meeting welcome was given to Mr. Rossell, who has returned to England after nine months’ experience of internment in Germany. At the evening service the Rev. H. G. Oyston spoke of “The Story of Italy: Her Pioneers and Prophets.” Italian music formed the organ recital programme by Mr. B. Johnson, and the Italian National Anthem and hymns and tunes by Italians were used in the service.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. Nottingham Evening Post, 18 June 1915: ‘Robin Hoods Casualties. Two Killed and Four Wounded. An intimation has reached the headquarters of the Robin Hood Rifles that Private GF Martin (1380) was killed in action on May 31st whilst Lance-Corporal FA [TA] Kerry (2440) shared a similar fate the following day. Sergt. F Mackenzie, Private F Savage, and Private T Chambers were slightly wounded, but returned to service in a few days. Private S Swift was rather more seriously hurt, a gunshot wound through the knee necessitating his being detained in hospital.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Note: See record for TA Kerry on this Roll of Honour Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his parents were joint legatees.
