James Martin (Australian soldier)
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[edit] Introduction
James (Jim) Martin was the youngest known Australian to have died at war. He was born on the 3rd January 1901 and died in 1915 at only 14 years of age.
Living in the early 1900s he and his family battled a tough life. Young Jim began his life in Tocumwal, then moved to many different suburbs in and around Melbourne. In 1920, the family settled down in Hawthorn. In that same year, Jim enrolled in Manningtree Road State School. His father, Charles, worked driving a horse drawn cab bringing in the only income to support him and his family.
He enlisted in the military because his father was too old to join. His parents disagreed with him but he threatened to sign up under another name and they finally agreed to sign the permission notice. He left behind 5 sisters (Annie, Alice, Millie, Esther and Mary) and his parents Amelia and Charlie Martin.
He joined the 1st reinforcements of the 21st battalion. He trained in Broadmeadows and Seymour camps in Victoria before being shipped off to Egypt in June. He sailed on the HMAT Berrima.
They landed at Gallipoli on the 8th September 1915. After being there for a few weeks he was taken to a hospital ship (The Glenart Castle) with typhoid fever. He died soon after. He was buried at sea and his belongings were sent home to Melbourne.
He was 1 of 20 known Australian soldiers under the age of 18 to die in World War 1.
[edit] Family
Before Jim went to war he lived with his mother, Amelia Martin, his father, Charlie Martin, and his five sisters; Annie, Alice, Millie, Esther and Mary. Charlie Martin was born in Auckland, New Zealand to Jewish parents. When he moved to Australia after his parents died he changed his surname from Marks to Martin because of the prejudice against Jews. He lived in Tocumwal after coming to Australia and ended up marrying Amelia just before her 18th birthday. Amelia Martin was born in Bendigo in 1876. Her parents (Thomas and Frances Park) migrated to Australia during the gold rush in the 1850s and had twelve children. Amelia was the youngest. After Thomas died, Frances moved to Deniliquin to be closer to her children.
[edit] Childhood
James ‘Jim’ Charles Martin was born on January 3rd 1901, in Tocumwal, Victoria. Jim was the 3rd eldest, his older sisters being Alice and Esther. Mary, Annie and Millie followed Jim. His parents were Amelia Martin (mother), and Samuel Marks (father). Samuel was a fruiterer. The Martin family ended up living in Hawthorn. His father Charles worked as a grocer and handyman at the stores and livery stables. Jim enrolled at Manningtree State School in 1910, later leaving school and working as a farmhand. He later enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in April 1915 at the age of 14 and 3 months, despite his parents' unwillingness to let him go.
[edit] School Life
At the age of nine Jim Martin enrolled to Manningtree Road state school and graduated at the age of fourteen. His uniform was a cap, a coat, serge pants down to his knees, long socks and black boots. Students were required to bring books, slates and a leather bag to school every day. The school bell rang at nine o’clock and missing the bell meant pupils would be whipped with the cane or strap. Every day students had to salute the flag and recite the pledge:
‘I love god and my country, I honour the flag, I will serve the king and cheerfully obey my parents, teachers and the law.’
Older students were seated at long tables raised by tiers at the back whilst younger students were seated in the newly built rooms or the assembly hall.
At recess and lunch pupils played games such as cricket, football, marbles and jack bones. At the end of recess all students formed into straight lines and marched into class to the sound of a drum and whistle. In class, if students made a noise, misbehaved or even got maths sums or spelling lessons wrong, they received the strap or cane.
[edit] Role in World War 1
James Martin achieved the rank of Private. He was punished for scratching his name on the paint of a boat and had to peel potatoes and do other chores for a week.
The first time he was in the trench he used a periscope to see where the enemies were hiding. Whilst holding onto the rifle he shook because he was so nervous. He was a member of the 1st Reinforcements of the 21st Battalion. After his training at Broadmeadows and Seymour camps in Victoria, he left for Egypt on the troopship HMAT Berrima in June. In late August, he departed for Gallipoli on the steamer HMT and wrote: “Southland, to have our share of the Turks.” When the ship was torpedoed by a German submarine off Lemnos Island, he spent four hours in the water before being rescued. Private Martin landed with his battalion in Gallipoli on 8th September 1915. They were stationed in the trenchlines near Courtney's Post on the ridge above Monash Valley. He wrote to his family that the Turks were still about 70 yards away and asked them not to worry aboutt him as we was doing splendidly.
[edit] Death
Private James Martin died at the age of fourteen and nine months. He contracted typhoid and, on October 25th 1915, was put on a five o’clock cargo ship to the hospital ship Glenart Castle with the sick and wounded. When he arrived at Glenart, the nurses found his clothes containing filthy lice and his own excreta. The staff gave him morphine to ease the pain.
Pr. James Martin was cared for by Matron Reddock, who was the last person to see him before his death. He was buried at sea soon after his death.
[edit] After His Death
After the death of James Martin, Matron Reddock wrote a letter to his family. She wrote about how he was brought on board from the shore at 5pm and how he was very sick. She also wrote that he settled down to sleep but then died quickly at 6:40pm that night. She wrote that he would be buried at sea. Matron Reddock came across some of Jim’s little treasures: his New Testament, a notebook, an aluminium dog tag with his battalion number, his belt and his pouch with a paper streamer from the Berrima. She eventually sent these articles to Jim’s family nine days after Jim was buried at sea. His good friend and fellow soldier Cecil Hogan also wrote to Amelia (Jim’s mother). His name is recorded on the Australian memorial at Lone Pine.
[edit] The Letters
Matron Reddock to Jim’s Mother:
26/10/15 Dear Mrs Martin, Before this reaches you, you will have already heard of your very sad loss in the death of your son. I thought you might like a few lines from me as I was with him for his very short time on this boat. He was brought on board from the shore yesterday at 5p.m. in a very collapsed state. We got him to bed comfortably and did everything possible for him, & he said he was feeling much more comfortable & thanked me so nicely for what had been done for him. He then settled down to get a sleep but died quiet suddenly & quietly of heart failure at 6.40p.m. That was yesterday, 25th October. He will be buried at sea. I found the enclosed amongst his papers. The remainder of his little treasures that were in his pockets I have done up in a little parcel which will be sent through the regimental office, with anything else of his there may have been that did not come with him. I know what a terrible grief it is to you to lose him, but you must I am sure feel very proud of him for so nobly coming forward to fight for his country. Yours in all deep sympathy (Mrs) Fr H.L. Reddock Matron
Private C.J, Hogan to Mrs Martin:
To Mrs Martin Dear Madam I am writing to you on behalf of the old No 10 Tent party to express our great sorrow at you late bereavement. Jim was in the firing line with us & he took bad but he stuck to his post till the last like the brave lad he was & made the greatest and noblest of sacrifices for his Country. Sergeant Coates of his platoon No 4 speaks very highly of him & says he never had a man in his platoon who paid more attention to his duty. I am Yours Faithfully Cecil Joseph Hogan
[edit] References
Soldier boy : the true story of Jim Martin the youngest Anzac / Anthony Hill. Ringwood, Vic. : Penguin, 2001.
