Name
Henry Martin
1875
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/04/1915
40
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
18280
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 31 and 33.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium, to the fallen.
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Green Tye memorials, Not on the Much Hadham memorials
Pre War
Henry Martin was born in 1875, according the Soldiers Died in the Great War database He was born in Great Hadham (which became Much Hadham, Herts) other sources suggest Green Tye, Herts. He was the son of George Martin an Agricultural Worker & Mary Ann (nee Carter) Martin. He was Christened on 6 June 1875, in Much Hadham, Herts. His father George Martin died in 1878.
1881 Census records Henry aged 5, living with his widowed mother and his five siblings in, Green Tye, Herts.
Mary his mother remarried in 1900 to William Chapple a widower from Much Hadham.
1891 Census records Henry aged 16, working as an Agricultural Labourer, living with his mother, stepfather William Chaple and his stepsister Louisa Chaple (5) and stepbrother Joseph Chaple (1) in, Green Tye, Herts.
On the 14 December 1896, aged 20, Henry travelled to the County Town of Hertford, to enlist in the Army, signing on for 12 years, 7 years with the colours and 5 years in the reserve, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 5898, serving at home until 27 December 1897, when he sailed for the East Indies, returning home on 20 March 1902. On 4th November 1902, he sailed for South Africa where he served until April 1903, when he returned home to completion of his 7-year service, on 13th December 1903, he was posted to the army reserve.
No 1911 Census record was found for Henry.
On the outbreak of war, it is believed Henry was living in Clerkenwell in London.
Wartime Service
Henry enlisted at St Paul’s Churchyard, London, returning to his old Regiment, landing in France on 4th January 1915. He was killed in action just 15 weeks later on 20 April 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium, to the fallen.
Extract from the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment War Diary: 20th April 1915:
Enemy counter attack. Tremendous bombardment carried out against Hill 60, and our trenches and supports. Enemy's heavy guns enfiladed position and other guns firing from various directions. Bombardment all night.
It is believed Henry was one of the many casualties that day.
Additional Information
The value of his effects was £1-16s-6d, Pay Owing and £3, War Gratuity, which was split between his brothers, sisters and two nieces. His service record for 1896 to 1903 is available. After his death, he was recorded as the son of the late George and Mary Ann Martin.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
“Lest We Forget – Much Hadham 1914-18” by Richard Maddams (Much Hadham Forge Museum), Jonty Wild
