Private
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) | 14116 | 10th Battalion, D Coy |
South Staffordshire Regiment | 34734 | 16th/1st General Battalion |
Photo courtesy Sue Martin with thanks to Amanda Yoxall
Biography
Alfred was born in 1892 at Matlock and worked as a labourer in the coal mines. He joined the Army in September 1914 at Derby aged twenty-one and entered France in July 1915. In September 1915 he suffered a gunshot wound at Etaples and was returned to the UK for treatment before returning to his unit.
He was transferred to the South Staffordshire Regiment in January 1917 before moving out to India where, in October 1918, he contracted malaria and was treated at Colaba War Hospital (Northern India) and Bombay Hospital. Leaving India aboard the hospital ship HS Castalia he was demobbed, with a 20% disability allowance, in March 1919.
He married Hannah Hemsock at Riddings Chapel in 1920. His younger brother John Martin married Hannah's younger sister Kate Hemstock at Swanwick Baptist Chapel in 1922. He died in 1985.
Photo courtesy Sue Martin with thanks to Amanda Yoxall
Newspaper report
Derbyshire Times 16 October 1915
FORMER CRICH MAN WOUNDED
Mr Alfred Martin, late of Crich, now residing at Somercotes, has received the following tribute from the Commanding Officer to his son, Pvte. A.B. Martin, No 14116, D Co. 10th Battalion, Notts and Derby. Private Martin was struck by a bullet which passed right through the muscle of his arm, causing paralysis for the time. He was conveyed to Etaples Hospital, but is now at Nether Court V.A.D. Hospital, Ramsgate where he is progressing favourably. “Had it not been for the spade he was using he would have been killed; he was a credit to his platoon, and was very calm under fire. He was a man with very high ideals, and always tried to live up to them. Such men do their comrades good, and I was very sorry to lose him.” Mr Martin also has another son Pvte. John Martin in the Notts and Derbys.
Medal Roll Index Card
He was awarded the Victory, British War and 14/15 Star Medals.
Army Service Record
He attested
on 01/09/14 at Nottingham, aged 21 years 193 days, an unmarried coal miner, born 1892 in Matlock. Address for pay, 13 Birchwood Lane, Alfreton. His next of kin was his father Alfred of Mill Yard Somercotes. His height was 5ft 4in; weight 134lb; blue eyes and light brown hair; a Methodist. He had a mole on his left arm.
He had a 20% disability allowance and had suffered a gun-shot wound to his left arm. Awarded 5/6 per week from 30/03/19
Theatre of War was India.
03/09/14 Joined at Derby
04/09/14 Posted
13/09/14 Posted to the 10th
14/07/15 to 24/9/15 Expeditionary Force France
22/09/15 Mother, Hannah Martin awarded 7/1 separation allowance and 3/6 allotment of pay. Gun shot wound Etaples
25/09/15 Posted to Depot Home
25/08/16 Posted to 13th
01/09/16 Transferred to 12th
27/01/17
Transferred to 1st Gn Bn South Staffs
17/10/18 to 21/10/18 Colaba War Hospital with malaria
21/10/18 to 29/10/18 Bombay Hospital with malaria
28/01/19 Embarked from Bombay for UK on H.S. Castalia
29/03/19 Demobbed
Walter Hallam's diary
Alfred is mentioned in the diaries of Walter Hallam
From his diary:
2.9.14; Pte AB Martin 14116, 10th Batt D Coy, Notts & Derby Regiment, Bovingdon Camp, Wool, Dorset
1915:
Pte AB Martin, 10th Sherwood Foresters, 5th Military Hospital N ward, Shorncliffe, Kent
1919: Pte AB Martin, B Coy, 1st (FS) Sth Staffs, Garr Bt, Coleba Bks, Bombay
Bert Martin elisted 2.9.1914
Alfred Martin's brother John Martin is also on the Roll of Honour.
1901: Crich Common
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Information | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alfred | Martin | Head | 33 | Stone cutter | Crich |
Catherine | Martin | wife | 34 | Crich | |
Alfred B | Martin | son | 8 | Matlock Bank | |
Ida | Martin | daughter | 7 | Crich | |
Hannah M | Martin | daughter | 5 | Crich | |
John H | Martin | son | 4 | Crich | |
Constance | Martin | daughter | 2 | Crich |
RG13 piece 3231 folio 18 page 27
1911: Mill Yard, Somercotes
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Information | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alfred | Martin | Head | 43 | Dutaller coal mine | Crich |
Katherine | Martin | wife | 44 | Crich | |
Alfred Burtram | Martin | son | 18 | Labourer coal mine | Matlock |
John Henry | Martin | son | 14 | Ganger coal mine | Crich |
Constance | Martin | daughter | 12 | School | Crich |
Sarah Emma | Martin | daughter | 9 | School | Crich |
Kathleen | Martin | daughter | 7 | School | Crich |
Elizabeth | Martin | daughter | 3 | Crich |
RG14PN20993 RG78PN1252 RD436 SD5 ED5 SN237
1939 Register: South Street, Alfreton
Alfred B Martin b.10 November 1892; colliery dataler
Hannah Martin b.2 May 1889
Kate
Flinstone (Barton, Martin) b.22 June 1922; probationary nurse
Alfred B Martin b.
2 April 1924; sanitary pipe worker
Roy Martin b.16 April 1927; school