Sidney James Martin was born to John and Emma Martin about November 1888 in Damerham, Wiltshire. In the UK Census 1891, aged 2 years, the family were living at 21 Green Lane, Fordingbridge, Hampshire. His father, John, was employed as a Carter. Ten years later in the next census, they had moved to 62 Tinkers Cross, Burgate, Fordingbridge, Hampshire.
On 13 March 1907, aged 18 years and 6 months, Private Sidney James Martin (7742) attested into the Hampshire Regiment at Winchester. His attestation paper indicates that he had tried to enlist in the Army on a previous occasion but had been rejected as ‘under standard’. Initially, he was posted to the depot but was posted to 1st Battalion in September 1907 and 2nd Battalion in February 1908. In this posting he served in South Africa as a Mounted Infantryman between 1 February 1908 – 6 December 1911. This was followed by a posting in Mauritius between 7 December 1911 – 13 January 1914. After completing 7 years’ service, Private Martin was transferred to Section A, Army Reserve on 22 March 1914.
Section A Reserve
This consist of men who had completed their service in the regular army and who undertook to rejoin, if required, in an emergency that did not require general mobilisation. Men could serve no more than two years in Section A. Pay was 7 shillings a week in addition to their earnings as a civilian. They had to attend twelve training days per year.
At the outbreak of the First World War, as a reservist, Private Martin was mobilised on 5 August 1914 and posted to 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment. On 22 August he embarked to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force and landed at Le Harve the following day.
4th Division – Order of Battle ( https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/4th-division/ )
1914
- The Battle of Le Cateau (26 August and the continuing “Retreat from Mons” which continued to 5 September)
- The Battle of the Marne (7-10 September)
- The Battle of the Aisne (12-15 September)
- The Battle of Armentières 1914 (13 October – 2 November)
During the Battle of Armentières, on 1 November 1914, Private Martin received a gunshot wound to the right arm and was hospitalised. He returned home to England on 4 November 1914 and was posted to 3rd Battalion Hampshire Regiment. Once fit again, on 19 January 1915, he was posted back to 1st Battalion and embarked at Southampton for his return to France.
4th Division – Order of Battle (https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/4th-division/ )
1915
The Second Battle of Ypres in its phases:
- Battle of St. Julien (24 April – 4 May)
- Battle of Frezenberg (8-13 May)
- Battle of Bellewaarde (24-25 May)
It was during the Battle of St. Julien, on 26 April 1915, that Private Martin was once again wounded. His Medical Report states, ‘During the fighting ‘round Ypres, received shrapnel wound of left thigh whilst in trenches. Was left in the trenches for 3 days before being taken away to hospital in Boulogne where he remained part of 4 days, before being admitted to General Hospital, Nottingham on 3 May. Was then suffering from bullet wound of left thigh which discharged a little pus’.
His pension record indicates that this injury resulted in complete paralysis of his left leg below the knee with drop foot. The Medical Board (27 November 1915) reported permanent disability ‘that will not improve. The limb below the knee is worse than useless’. Private Martin was discharged from the Army on 10 January 1916 ‘no longer physically fit for war service’. His character was summarised as ‘honest, sober, clean, industrious, and trustworthy. Good knowledge of horses….very willing and hardworking’. After his discharge from the Army, Sidney married Eleanor Rose Dewey in February 1916. He died on 24 Jul 1918 at age of 29 years and was buried in St. Giles Hill Cemetery, England. After his death, his widow, Eleanor, applied for his Army Pension. This application was refused on the grounds that she was not eligible because the marriage had taken place after Sidney’s discharge.
Sidney James Martin’s headstone also bear the following inscription… Also in Memory of 68304 Driver W. Martin, Royal Field Artillery. They died for their friends.
William Martin, Sidney’s brother, died as a prisoner-of-war on 28 August 1916. He is buried in Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq.
Grateful acknowledgement is given to Stuart Adlam of the CWGC for the information on this page.