George Horace Martin

Born: 1885

Died: Easter Monday 9 April 1917

Rank and Regiment: Private 48117 in the 24th Battalion (Tyneside Irish) of the Northumberland Fusiliers

Resting Place: Roclincourt Valley Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France - Plot II, Row E, Grave 3

Memorials: St. Peter and St. Paul, Barnham Broom, United Kingdom

George Horace Martin was born 1885 in Barnham Broom to Horace and Harriet Martin (nee Knight). In 1891, 3-year-old George is recorded as living as a lodger with next door neighbour Thomas and Harriet White in Barnham Broom. He appears to remain there until 1911 when, aged 24, he is recorded as working as a carpenter and builder in Barnham Broom.

His parents, meanwhile, moved into Norwich; in 1891 Horace was one of the army of Agricultural Labourers, in 1901 he was a “Stone and Gravel Carter” living in Thorpe. By 1911, he was working as a Permanent Way man on the railways and they were living at 4 Kett Hill, Norwich. The 1911 Census revealed that of the six children Horace and Harriet had had, three died, which may be connected with the decision to have George live on a semi-permanent basis with another family.

On the 14th June 1913, George married Jessie May Eastoll (born in Flordon, Norfolk) in Norwich. Later that year they had a son, William George Martin, and in 1915, they had a daughter, Margery May.

Very little of George’s military record remains. As war broke out, George enlisted in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne as a Private (48117) in the 24th Battalion (Tyneside Irish) Northumberland Fusiliers. According to the Wartime Memories Project, a Private G H Martin of the 24th Battalion went AWOL in 1915; but if that was George (possibly overstaying his leave after the birth of his daughter) he was certainly back in the action after that.

On Easter Monday in 1917, George’s Battalion were part of a large allied victory at First Battle of Scarpe (part of the Battles of Arras). The British advanced before dawn but were hampered by snow, sleet and strong winds. Their primary objective was to capture the Observation Ridge north of Cambrai to Arras road. As they attacked, George’s battalion encountered heavy German machine gun fire and George was killed aged 29. He is buried in Roclincourt Valley Cemetery and the inscription on his gravestone, chosen by Jessie, reads:

IN PERFECT PEACE

His effects, amounting to £5 1s 4d (after the authorities had solemnly deducted a “re-charge” of 3s 7d), were paid out to Jessie, together with a War Gratuity of £3. At the time of his death, Jessie was living at 348 Spring Road, Ipswich. She later when on to marry a Herbert Webb in 1924.

He is commemorated on the Barnham Broom War Memorial and, because he was in the Tyneside Irish Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers, George is also listed in Ireland’s Memorial Records for the Great War.

Roclincourt Valley Cemetery, France