Name
Arthur Henry Martin
1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/07/1916
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3/7638
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
‘B’ Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ABBEVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
IV. F. 3.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Not on the Ickleford memorials
Pre War
Arthur Henry Martin was born in Maidenhead, Berks in 1882, the son of George William and Maria Martin of Edgbaston, Birmingham/Warwickshire.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Norton End, near Baldock, Hertfordshire. Not yet found in the 1901 census,
In 1891 the family were living at Norton End, Norton, Hertfordshire. Present were both William (George William, 52) and Maria (46), with William working as a shoe mender. Their children were: William (12, born Canterbury), Arthur (9, born Maidenhead) and Frederick (7, born Buntingford).
We have not yet found the family in the 1901 census.
Arthur married Eliza Day in Hitchin in 1904, we believe that they had two children Queenie (b c1906/7) and Dorothy (b c1910), however there may be some doubt. It appears that the marriage was not entirely happy. The Biggleswade Chronicle of 26 October 1906 reported on the ‘Petty Sessions’ “Arthur Henry Martin, labour, Baldock, was charged with deserting his wife, Eliza Martin. The defendant denied the charge. The justices adjourned the case for a fortnight to give the parties an opportunity of coming together again.”
We do not know the outcome but in the 1911 Census his wife Eliza was living with her parents Cornelius and Elizabeth Day, at their home in Upper Green Ickleford Nr Hitchin, Herts with two daughters Queenie (4) and Dorothy (1). There was no mention of Arthur, however Eliza was listed as married and had been for 7 years and had 5 children of whom 3 had died. She was working – ironing for a steam laundry. Later as can be seen in the pension reference below he was recorded as separated from his wife.
He is said that Arthur had served in the South African War and resided in Ickleford.
One other item which seems may relate Arthur, but that is not 100% certain is a local newspaper report dated 14 June 1907, and from the Bedfordshire Summer Assizes. It was reported that a highway robbery with violence had taken place on January 1st. a “John Gentle, a labourer of Stotfold, and Herbert Cooper, a private in the 3rd Beds. Regiment, were indicted for robbery with violence from Arthur Henry Martin, on the highway, at Stotfold, on January 1st, and taking the sum of £1.15s., a purse, jacket, waistcoat, collar, tie and cuffs. (The) Prisoners who both pleaded not guilty, were sentenced each to six weeks’ hard labour.”
Officially Arthur was recorded as born in Maidenhead, Berks and was living in Ickleford, Herts when he enlisted in Hitchin, Herts.
Wartime Service
Arthur enlisted in Hitchin and served with the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment in France from 26 July 1915 when they arrived at Boulogne.
They were in action in the Fricourt area east of Albert through much of the rest of the year and fought in the Battle of Albert (Battle of the Somme) in July 1916.
It is likely that Arthur was wounded on 1 July 1916 when the 7th Battalion was involved in the Battle of the Somme and casualties were enormous. He was in ‘B’ Company. An artillery bombardment had started seven days earlier, before the attack which commenced at 7.30 am on the 1 July. The weather was appalling and the men stood in water-filled trenches. ‘B' Company was one of the assaulting Companies on the right of the 7th Bedfords’ line against Pommiers Redoubt. Severe machine-gun fire was suffered and the wire in front of the Redoubt had not been cut despite the bombardment. Nevertheless, it was captured by 9.30 am. They then went on to storm other trenches and ended up in Beetle Alley.
He died of wounds, aged 36, on 4 July 1916 at No. 2 Stationary Hospital (Register of Soldiers' Effects) which was at Abbeville from September 1915 to January 1920. He is buried at Abbeville Communal Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His widow Eliza received a war gratuity of £6 and pay owing of £7 2s 3d. Pension records state “Soldier deserted his wife, who now lives, and is dependent upon his brother. Allotment of 3/6 paid to friend L Gardiner 3 Kimbolton Rd Bedford.”
Eliza married his brother George William Martin in 1917.
Arthur does have a connection with Ickleford, but is not listed on the memorial. This suggests that he may be the H Martin appearing on the Hitchin war memorial, however only the initial ‘H’ is shown. At the time of his death the 7th Battalion, Beds Regt was part of the 54th Brigade in the 18th Division.
The Lawson Thompson Scrapbooks in the North ‘Herts museum, show him as being in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment but the CWGC confirms the Bedfordshires.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
David C Baines, Brenda Palmer, Jonty Wild, www.longlongtrail.co.uk, www.bedfordregiment.org.uk