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Town Hall, 333 Bay Street, Port Melbourne

Martin, Charles Henry (6138/6144)

Enlistments, WWI Centenary, ~M1Comments
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Place of Birth: Melbourne, VIC

Age: 21 years 10 months

Enlistment Details: Monday, 7 February 1916 – Ballarat, VIC

Service Number: 6138/6144            view online service record

Address:
271 Graham Street
Port Melbourne, VIC

Next of Kin:
Charles Henry Martin (father)
271 Graham Street
Port Melbourne, VIC

Embarkation Details:
Date: Friday, 28 July 1916
Ship: HMAT Themistocles A32
Port: Melbourne, VIC
Unit: 6th Infantry Battalion – 19th Reinforcements

Fate:
KIA: Sunday, 17 February 1918
Place: Death report from Germany

Brothers: Leonard George Martin and Frederick Ernest Martin

Lieutenant, 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, killed in action 17 February, 1918, France, aged 23, commemorated Arras Flying Services Memorial, France.

Parents: Charles Henry and Mrs Louisa MARTIN, born Melbourne. Martin enlisted in Ballarat as a 22 year-old builder with parents at 271 Graham Street. Originally Sergeant Major, 6th Infantry, later commissioned in Australian Flying Corps. Posted Missing on 17 February, 1918, confirmed killed in action in August after a report from German authorities revealed his remains had been found after he crashed behind enemy lines. No known grave. No circular returned.

Additional research by Brian Membrey

1916 ‘ANXIOUS TO SERVE.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 19 February, p. 4, viewed 31 January, 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91163989

1916 ‘”Crossing the Line.”‘, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 15 July, p. 4. , viewed 28 Jun 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91168121

The first intimation Charles’ father had that his son had been killed was a letter he received from a German officer returning his son’s belongings. Charles’ plane had crashed behind enemy lines and at the time the letter was sent, he was posted by the AIF as missing.

1917 ‘Aviator Martin.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 17 November, p. 4. , viewed 13 Oct 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88369299

 

1918 ‘LIEUTENANT C. H. MARTIN KILLED.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 18 May, p. 3. , viewed 17 Apr 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88367425

1919 ‘LATE FLIGHT-LIEUTENANT C. H. MARTIN.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 25 October, p. 2. , viewed 18 Jun 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165261738

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1 Comments

  • Brian Membrey
    Posted February 17, 2017 3.47 pm 0Likes
    Reply

    “I knew Lieutenant C.H. Martin and was out on the same patrol with him on Feb. 17/18. We were flying over lille and I saw his machine receive a direct hit, and saw nothing more of his machine but the falling pieces. He was blown to bits” (Lieutenant F.J. Scott (M.C), A.F.C., 4 Squadron)

    “Australian Flight Lieut. Martin, Charles H. A.F.C., Pilot from Port Melbourne crashed fatally in aerial fight at Capingham and buried at Bremesques north of the Lille – Armentieres Road” (Berling Jacobi. Lieut. of the Reserve, 15.11.18)

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